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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 116 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: cap · row · plane · mouse · cue · chip · suit · mine

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  12. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  13. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  16. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  17. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  18. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. row — to paddle
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. suit — in cards
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cue — for pool
  7. row — a line
  8. cue — a signal
  9. plane — a tool
  10. mine — for digging
  11. cap — of ice
  12. chip — in a computer
  13. chip — for betting
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. cap — a hat
  17. plane — in geometry
  18. row — a quarrel
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. cue — a hint
  23. suit — clothes
  24. chip — to eat

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