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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. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — of water
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. cue — a signal
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. cue — for pool
  9. can — a tin
  10. can — to be able to
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. chair — a leader
  14. spring — the season
  15. can — a tin
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. lean — thin
  18. chair — a professorship
  19. cue — a hint
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. spring — a coil
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rush — hurry

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