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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 120 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 · object · rash · firm · face · row · racket · wave

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  22. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  23. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. firm — a company
  3. face — to confront
  4. rash — a series
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. firm — decided
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. face — to point toward
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. firm — steady
  11. racket — for tennis
  12. row — to paddle
  13. object — to protest
  14. object — an aim
  15. face — part of the head
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. rash — hasty
  19. cue — a signal
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. object — a thing
  22. wave — with your hand
  23. row — a line
  24. cue — a hint

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