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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: snap · suit · ball · foot · court · rash · arm · cue

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. The ball is in your ________________.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. foot — a measure
  3. cue — a signal
  4. rash — hasty
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rash — a series
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. court — of a king
  10. cue — a hint
  11. suit — in cards
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. court — for sport
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. snap — to click
  18. suit — to fit
  19. ball — a great time
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. ball — a dance
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. suit — clothes
  24. court — of law

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