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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.

Make a worksheet

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: file · perch · rock · pass · fine · squash · cue · ball

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. The King held a masked ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. squash — the sport
  3. ball — a great time
  4. ball — a dance
  5. rock — a stone
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. pass — a permit
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. fine — all right
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. file — a tool
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. file — a line of people
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. cue — a hint
  16. rock — music
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. squash — to crush
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. fine — high quality
  21. file — a document
  22. cue — for pool
  23. perch — the fish
  24. pass — to succeed

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