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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 116 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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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: cue · season · racket · squash · wave · can · key · net

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. This piece is in a major ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. Hard work is the ________________ to success.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. can — a tin
  3. can — to be able to
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. key — for a lock
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. net — after costs
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. net — for catching
  12. cue — a hint
  13. squash — the sport
  14. can — a tin
  15. season — in sport
  16. season — of the year
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. squash — to crush
  19. cue — for pool
  20. key — in music
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. net — in sport
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. key — the most important part

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