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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
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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: current · cue · stick · mug · temple · saw · tube · deal

  1. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  2. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — a piece of wood
  2. mug — a cup
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. mug — a face
  5. current — of water
  6. tube — the underground
  7. stick — to attach or keep to
  8. current — electric
  9. cue — a hint
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. cue — a signal
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. mug — to rob
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. cue — for pool
  17. tube — a container
  18. deal — to handle
  19. current — happening now
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. saw — the tool
  23. saw — the tool
  24. deal — an agreement

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