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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: sharp · mug · bat · cabinet · fine · fan · bank · cue

  1. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  14. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. It's one o'clock ________________.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. bat — in an idiom
  4. bank — of a river
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. fine — high quality
  7. fine — all right
  8. bank — for money
  9. cue — for pool
  10. sharp — clever
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. bank — for money
  13. bat — the animal
  14. bat — for baseball
  15. cue — a signal
  16. sharp — exactly
  17. mug — a face
  18. mug — to rob
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. cue — a hint
  24. sharp — with an edge

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