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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: temple · mark · leaves · board · saw · cue · foot · pitcher

  1. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. When was this ________________ built?
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. cue — for pool
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. foot — a measure
  6. temple — a place of worship
  7. saw — the tool
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. saw — the tool
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. foot — the bottom
  14. board — to get on
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. board — a committee
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. cue — a hint
  20. cue — a signal
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. mark — a grade

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