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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 teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  9. The ________________ went through the wall.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. wound — an injury
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. suit — in cards
  7. cue — for pool
  8. wound — past of 'wind'
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. drill — army training
  11. lie — an untruth
  12. drill — a practice
  13. wound — an injury
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. cue — a signal
  17. roll — a cake
  18. lie — to recline
  19. suit — to fit
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. cue — a hint
  22. drill — the tool
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. suit — clothes

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