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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 116 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: mark · cue · fine · hand · lean · mine · bear · rock

  1. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  2. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — a penalty
  2. lean — thin
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. bear — the animal
  6. fine — high quality
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. rock — a stone
  9. rock — music
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. mine — for digging
  12. bear — the animal
  13. hand — help
  14. cue — a hint
  15. lean — to bend
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. mine — an explosive
  18. cue — for pool
  19. mark — a grade
  20. hand — in cards
  21. mark — a trace
  22. cue — a signal
  23. mine — belonging to me
  24. fine — all right

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