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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: cue · deal · foot · straw · staff · can · fork · swing

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  4. David sat on the ________________.
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. fork — in a road
  4. swing — to play on
  5. staff — employees
  6. cue — for pool
  7. can — a tin
  8. fork — a garden tool
  9. cue — a hint
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. staff — employees
  12. straw — to clutch at straws
  13. can — a tin
  14. straw — a straw man
  15. staff — a stick
  16. foot — a measure
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. cue — a signal
  19. swing — music
  20. can — to be able to
  21. deal — an agreement
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. deal — to handle
  24. swing — in golf

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