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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: saw · key · pit · mouse · nail · cue · mate · chair

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. pit — a hole
  3. mate — a partner
  4. saw — the tool
  5. chair — to sit on
  6. mate — to breed
  7. cue — a hint
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. cue — for pool
  12. mate — a friend
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. chair — a leader
  15. cue — a signal
  16. key — for a lock
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. mouse — for a computer
  19. key — in music
  20. key — the most important part
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. saw — the tool
  23. chair — a professorship
  24. pit — in a race

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