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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: cabinet · rock · rush · roll · snap · cell · toast · cue

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. He was locked up in a ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  12. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. We're on a ________________ here.
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. cue — a signal
  4. snap — to speak sharply
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. rock — a stone
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. cell — in a prison
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. snap — to snap out of it
  12. snap — to click
  13. roll — a cake
  14. cell — in biology
  15. roll — a list
  16. roll — on a roll
  17. cell — a phone
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. rock — music
  20. cue — a hint
  21. rush — hurry
  22. toast — bread
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. cue — for pool

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