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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: foot · court · cue · mug · deal · leaves · hide · file

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  14. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. deal — to handle
  3. court — of a king
  4. court — for sport
  5. file — a line of people
  6. foot — a measure
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. cue — a hint
  11. foot — the bottom
  12. mug — a face
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. court — of law
  15. mug — to rob
  16. file — a document
  17. file — a tool
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. deal — a big deal
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. mug — a cup
  23. cue — a signal
  24. leaves — of a tree

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