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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: cue · tube · leaves · object · sharp · cell · rash · mouse

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. I'll be taking the ________________.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. He was locked up in a ________________.
  11. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. tube — the underground
  4. rash — a series
  5. rash — hasty
  6. sharp — clever
  7. cue — a hint
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. cell — in a prison
  11. object — an aim
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. tube — a container
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. object — to protest
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. cell — a phone
  19. object — a thing
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. cue — a signal
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. cue — for pool

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