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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: bear · cue · temple · charge · scale · toast · fine · lash

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  5. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  13. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The tickets are free of ________________.
  17. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. bear — the animal
  3. cue — a signal
  4. toast — the most admired
  5. temple — side of the head
  6. bear — the animal
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. fine — high quality
  9. fine — all right
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. charge — electricity
  12. scale — in music
  13. toast — bread
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. charge — a price
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. cue — a hint
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. charge — in control
  21. toast — a drink to someone
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. scale — size or range
  24. bear — to put up with

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