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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: mug · mark · chip · hide · cue · sharp · scale · firm

  1. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. cue — for pool
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. cue — a hint
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. mark — a grade
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — clever
  9. scale — in music
  10. firm — decided
  11. chip — to eat
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. firm — a company
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. mug — a face
  17. firm — steady
  18. mug — a cup
  19. cue — a signal
  20. mark — a trace
  21. mug — to rob
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. chip — in a computer
  24. chip — for betting

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