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

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. When will it ________________ you to start?
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. cue — a signal
  3. lash — a whip stroke
  4. drill — army training
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. capital — money
  7. can — to be able to
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. capital — a big letter
  11. suit — in cards
  12. can — a tin
  13. capital — a city
  14. lie — to recline
  15. suit — to fit
  16. drill — a practice
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. suit — clothes
  19. can — a tin
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. cue — for pool
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. drill — the tool
  24. lie — an untruth

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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