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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: cue · net · mouse · racket · wind · temple · nail · arm

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  5. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  8. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. My father caught me by the ________________.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. cue — a hint
  4. temple — side of the head
  5. temple — a place of worship
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. wind — moving air
  8. wind — moving air
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. net — for catching
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. arm — a part of something
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. wind — to turn a key
  17. net — after costs
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. net — in sport
  24. cue — a signal

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