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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. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  4. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. He was locked up in a ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  15. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  23. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  24. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.

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

Answer key

  1. cell — in biology
  2. can — a tin
  3. race — a contest
  4. kid — child
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. rash — hasty
  7. can — a tin
  8. rash — on the skin
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. cue — for pool
  11. cell — in a prison
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cue — a hint
  14. race — humankind
  15. foot — part of the body
  16. can — to be able to
  17. race — the arms race
  18. foot — a measure
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cell — a phone
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. kid — to tease
  23. rash — a series
  24. kid — young goat (kid gloves)

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