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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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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: cell · kid · nail · lie · cue · season · prune · wave

  1. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. The ________________ went through the wall.
  4. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  5. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  6. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  11. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  17. Did you ________________ the meat?
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. wave — with your hand
  5. wave — a sudden rise
  6. kid — child
  7. lie — to recline
  8. prune — the fruit
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. season — in sport
  11. prune — to trim
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. cue — for pool
  14. cue — a hint
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. season — of the year
  17. season — to add flavour
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. prune — to trim
  21. kid — to tease
  22. cell — a phone
  23. cue — a signal
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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