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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · mouse · file · nail · bay · fan · mug · bear

  1. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — a supporter
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. file — a document
  7. cue — a signal
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. file — a line of people
  10. cue — a hint
  11. bear — the animal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mug — to rob
  15. file — a tool
  16. bear — the animal
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. mug — a cup
  21. cue — for pool
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. mug — a face

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