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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 116 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 seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. scale — size or range
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. rash — a series
  6. cue — a hint
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. board — to get on
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. bowl — a football final
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. board — a committee
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rash — hasty
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. board — a flat piece
  22. cue — for pool
  23. scale — in music
  24. lie — to recline

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