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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
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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: cue · rush · deal · can · ball · craft · degree · suit

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. can — a tin
  3. suit — in cards
  4. degree — from a university
  5. suit — clothes
  6. degree — an amount
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. rush — hurry
  9. ball — a great time
  10. can — to be able to
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. deal — to handle
  13. craft — boats
  14. craft — a handicraft
  15. ball — a dance
  16. cue — for pool
  17. cue — a hint
  18. suit — to fit
  19. craft — a skill
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. degree — temperature
  22. can — a tin
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. deal — a big deal

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