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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
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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 · mate · lie · bear · pass · spring · hand · court

  1. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  2. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  5. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  19. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  20. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. pass — to spend time
  2. pass — a permit
  3. cue — a hint
  4. spring — a coil
  5. court — of a king
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bear — the animal
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. court — for sport
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bear — the animal
  13. mate — a partner
  14. court — of law
  15. spring — of water
  16. cue — a signal
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. hand — help
  19. spring — the season
  20. lie — to recline
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. hand — in cards
  23. mate — a friend
  24. lie — an untruth

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