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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: face · cell · staff · can · perch · cue · current · mug

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  5. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. current — of water
  3. staff — employees
  4. cell — a phone
  5. cell — in biology
  6. can — a tin
  7. mug — a cup
  8. current — happening now
  9. staff — a stick
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. perch — the fish
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. mug — to rob
  14. can — to be able to
  15. face — to point toward
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. face — part of the head
  18. mug — a face
  19. staff — employees
  20. current — electric
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — for pool
  23. face — to confront
  24. can — a tin

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