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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: suit · mate · bay · hand · bear · arm · cue · chip

  1. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  2. Have you found your soul ________________?
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. bay — a part of the sea
  2. mate — a partner
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. suit — in cards
  5. cue — for pool
  6. chip — for betting
  7. cue — a signal
  8. mate — a friend
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. hand — help
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bear — the animal
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. bear — the animal
  15. suit — clothes
  16. chip — to eat
  17. bear — to put up with
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. cue — a hint
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. hand — part of the body
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. hand — in cards
  24. suit — to fit

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