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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: net · wave · trunk · mate · lie · key · cue · can

  1. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Have you found your soul ________________?
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. trunk — of a car
  2. cue — a signal
  3. mate — to breed
  4. key — the most important part
  5. lie — to recline
  6. net — for catching
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. wave — of the sea
  10. net — in sport
  11. key — for a lock
  12. cue — a hint
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. net — after costs
  15. key — in music
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. mate — a partner
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. can — a tin
  20. mate — a friend
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — to be able to
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. cue — for pool

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