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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.

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: squash · stick · fan · foot · rash · can · cue · pit

  1. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  18. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  21. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. Can you turn the ________________ on?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. squash — the vegetable
  5. pit — in a race
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. cue — a signal
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. can — to be able to
  11. foot — a measure
  12. can — a tin
  13. rash — hasty
  14. can — a tin
  15. cue — for pool
  16. rash — a series
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. squash — to crush
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. squash — the sport
  21. pit — a hole
  22. cue — a hint
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. fan — to cool the air

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