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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.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

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

Word bank: mouse · leaves · prune · cue · chair · land

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. land — to come down
  3. cue — for pool
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. land — ground
  6. prune — to trim
  7. land — a country
  8. chair — to sit on
  9. cue — a hint
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. mouse — for a computer
  12. prune — to trim
  13. chair — a professorship
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. chair — a leader
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. mouse — the animal

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