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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.

Make a worksheet

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: cabinet · fan · sharp · mark · cue · root · perch · straw

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  12. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  15. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  18. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  19. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. cue — a hint
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. perch — for a bird
  7. mark — a grade
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. sharp — clever
  10. root — of a word
  11. perch — the fish
  12. root — the cause
  13. cue — a signal
  14. straw — to clutch at straws
  15. root — of a plant
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. perch — for a bird
  18. straw — a straw man
  19. mark — to pay attention
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. mark — a trace

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