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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. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  14. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. drill — a practice
  3. bank — for money
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. cue — a signal
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. bass — low music
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. bass — the fish
  11. nail — for a hammer
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. rule — government
  14. rule — to rule out
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. bank — of a river
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bass — the instrument
  19. bank — for money
  20. drill — army training
  21. cue — a hint
  22. cue — for pool
  23. drill — the tool
  24. jam — a tight spot

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