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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: mate · lash · cue · key · racket · court · tube · mug

  1. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  7. Have you found your soul ________________?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  13. I'll be taking the ________________.
  14. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. key — for a lock
  3. cue — for pool
  4. court — of law
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. mate — a friend
  7. mate — a partner
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. tube — a container
  11. cue — a hint
  12. court — of a king
  13. tube — the underground
  14. mate — to breed
  15. mug — a cup
  16. mug — to rob
  17. key — in music
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. court — for sport
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. key — the most important part
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. cue — a signal

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