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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: cue · mouse · pass · temple · pound · game · scale · cabinet

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. That was a fun ________________.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  19. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  20. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. pass — a permit
  3. game — wild animals
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. pound — for dogs
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. cue — a hint
  8. scale — in music
  9. pass — to succeed
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. pound — a weight
  12. game — a match
  13. cue — for pool
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. cabinet — a cupboard
  19. temple — side of the head
  20. game — a kind of play
  21. scale — size or range
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. pound — to hit hard
  24. temple — a place of worship

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