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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  6. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  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. rock — to move gently
  3. charge — in control
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. stand — for spectators
  7. face — to confront
  8. stand — to bear
  9. stand — on your feet
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. bore — gave birth
  12. cue — a signal
  13. bore — to tire
  14. face — part of the head
  15. bore — to drill
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. rock — a stone
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. face — to point toward
  20. charge — electricity
  21. rock — music
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. charge — a price
  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