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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: sharp · mouse · prune · dip · season · cue · scale · bowl

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. It's one o'clock ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  18. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. cue — a signal
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. season — in sport
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — for pool
  7. prune — to trim
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. bowl — a dish
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. sharp — exactly
  13. season — of the year
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. scale — in music
  16. prune — to trim
  17. dip — to dunk
  18. scale — size or range
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. dip — to sink
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bowl — to roll

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