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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 116 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: season · deal · rest · sharp · saw · mate · cue · mug

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. deal — to handle
  3. cue — for pool
  4. season — in sport
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. rest — what's left
  8. mug — to rob
  9. mug — a face
  10. season — of the year
  11. sharp — with an edge
  12. saw — the tool
  13. deal — a big deal
  14. mug — a cup
  15. mate — to breed
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. rest — a break
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. mate — a friend
  20. rest — what's left
  21. mate — a partner
  22. saw — the tool
  23. cue — a hint
  24. sharp — clever

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