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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: chip · cue · mouse · wake · racket · hand · foot · rush

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. cue — for pool
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. chip — for betting
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. hand — help
  13. cue — a signal
  14. hand — in cards
  15. rush — hurry
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. racket — for tennis
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. cue — a hint
  23. foot — a measure
  24. chip — to eat

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