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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. David sat on the ________________.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. cue — a signal
  3. cap — a hat
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. swing — in golf
  7. cap — of ice
  8. fine — all right
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. prune — to trim
  11. swing — to play on
  12. mate — a friend
  13. swing — music
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cap — a lid
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. cue — for pool
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. prune — to trim
  20. cue — a hint
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. mate — a partner
  23. pass — a permit
  24. fine — high quality

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com