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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. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. It's one o'clock ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. can — to be able to
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. cue — for pool
  5. sharp — clever
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. stand — to bear
  8. spring — of water
  9. can — a tin
  10. sharp — exactly
  11. bore — to tire
  12. spring — the season
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. spring — a coil
  17. bore — to drill
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. can — a tin
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. cue — a signal
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. leaves — lets stay

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