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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.

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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: straw · jam · suit · spell · pit · press · cue · mouse

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  12. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. Did you ________________ the button?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. cue — for pool
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. spell — letters
  9. pit — a hole
  10. cue — a hint
  11. straw — a straw man
  12. straw — dry grass
  13. suit — to fit
  14. press — a publisher
  15. suit — clothes
  16. press — to push
  17. cue — a signal
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. suit — in cards
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. press — newspapers
  23. spell — magic
  24. pit — in a race

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