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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: capital · mark · lie · mate · rush · sharp · cue · coach

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  6. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. mate — a friend
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. capital — a city
  6. lie — to recline
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. mate — a partner
  9. sharp — with an edge
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. capital — money
  13. rush — hurry
  14. mark — a grade
  15. mark — a trace
  16. sharp — clever
  17. mate — to breed
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. cue — a signal
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. capital — a big letter
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. cue — a hint
  24. mark — to pay attention

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