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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
468
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: field · season · mouse · jam · snap · cue · board · wake

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. field — for sport
  3. snap — to click
  4. jam — to spread on bread
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. cue — for pool
  7. season — in sport
  8. wake — a trail
  9. cue — a signal
  10. season — of the year
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. board — to get on
  13. field — a subject
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. board — a committee
  16. field — farmland
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. snap — to speak sharply
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. 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