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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. drill — the tool
  3. degree — temperature
  4. chip — for betting
  5. mark — a trace
  6. degree — from a university
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. cue — for pool
  9. degree — an amount
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. chip — to eat
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. cue — a signal
  18. wake — a trail
  19. mark — a grade
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. chip — in a computer
  22. drill — army training
  23. cue — a hint
  24. wake — before a funeral

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