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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: prune · mouse · scale · cue · current · snap · cabinet · staff

  1. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  15. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  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. prune — to trim
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. scale — in music
  7. snap — to click
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. current — of water
  10. scale — size or range
  11. current — electric
  12. current — happening now
  13. cue — a signal
  14. snap — to snap out of it
  15. scale — for weighing
  16. prune — to trim
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. staff — employees
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. staff — employees
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. staff — a stick
  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