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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: deal · sharp · snap · pitch · bound · cue · hide · mouse

  1. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. bound — tied together
  5. sharp — clever
  6. cue — for pool
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. deal — a big deal
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. deal — an agreement
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bound — certain
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. cue — a signal
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. bound — obliged
  17. snap — to click
  18. cue — a hint
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. pitch — completely

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