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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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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: mug · stem · cue · ball · can · foot · game · plane

  1. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. That was a fun ________________.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  22. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.

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

Answer key

  1. game — wild animals
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. game — a match
  4. stem — to come from
  5. ball — a great time
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. stem — of a plant
  8. cue — a signal
  9. stem — a stem cell
  10. cue — for pool
  11. mug — a cup
  12. foot — the bottom
  13. mug — a face
  14. foot — a measure
  15. mug — to rob
  16. can — to be able to
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. can — a tin
  20. cue — a hint
  21. plane — in geometry
  22. plane — a tool
  23. ball — a dance
  24. can — a tin

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