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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 · hide · fine · coach · jam · saw · mouse · rock

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cue — a signal
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. rock — music
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. saw — the tool
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. coach — pulled by horses
  19. fine — all right
  20. cue — for pool
  21. cue — a hint
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. fine — high quality
  24. hide — animal skin

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