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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: suit · racket · cell · face · deal · cabinet · mouse · cue

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. He was locked up in a ________________.
  23. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. face — to confront
  4. suit — in cards
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. deal — to handle
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. cell — a phone
  11. suit — clothes
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. cue — for pool
  15. cell — in biology
  16. suit — to fit
  17. face — part of the head
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. cue — a hint
  20. face — to point toward
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. cell — in a prison
  23. deal — an agreement
  24. racket — for tennis

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