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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cue · object · stick · suit · rock · jam · ball · straw

  1. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  12. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  15. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — an aim
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. straw — dry grass
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. cue — for pool
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. ball — a dance
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. cue — a hint
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. object — a thing
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. object — to protest
  15. suit — clothes
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. rock — music
  18. rock — a stone
  19. suit — to fit
  20. cue — a signal
  21. ball — a great time
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. suit — in cards
  24. jam — a tight spot

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