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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. The ________________ went through the wall.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  9. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  10. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. He was locked up in a ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  24. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. cue — for pool
  3. shower — rain
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. bound — obliged
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. cue — a signal
  9. firm — steady
  10. shower — a meteor shower
  11. cell — in biology
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. firm — decided
  14. bound — tied together
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. cell — in a prison
  17. bound — certain
  18. firm — a company
  19. cue — a hint
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. shower — to wash
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. cell — a phone
  24. wake — a trail

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