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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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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 · mug · roll · pass · rest · stem · firm · sharp

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  6. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  7. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  8. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  13. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  14. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  20. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. cue — for pool
  3. mug — a cup
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. firm — decided
  6. roll — a list
  7. stem — a stem cell
  8. roll — a cake
  9. mug — a face
  10. rest — what's left
  11. firm — a company
  12. stem — to come from
  13. rest — a break
  14. stem — of a plant
  15. pass — a permit
  16. cue — a signal
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. mug — to rob
  19. pass — to spend time
  20. sharp — clever
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. cue — a hint
  23. firm — steady
  24. pass — to succeed

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