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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 120 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: band · dip · mug · mouse · cabinet · chest · cue · row

  1. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  3. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  15. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  16. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. band — a ring
  3. row — to paddle
  4. row — a line
  5. dip — to sink
  6. cue — for pool
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. cue — a hint
  9. band — a music group
  10. mug — to rob
  11. cue — a signal
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. row — a quarrel
  15. mouse — for a computer
  16. chest — of your body
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. mug — a cup
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. chest — of your body
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. mug — a face

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