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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 people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  20. Did you ________________ the meat?
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. Spring is a pleasant ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. cue — a signal
  3. rash — a series
  4. cue — for pool
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. suit — to fit
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. suit — clothes
  9. game — wild animals
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. toast — bread
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rash — hasty
  14. cue — a hint
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. game — a match
  18. bulb — for light
  19. toast — a drink to someone
  20. season — to add flavour
  21. suit — in cards
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. season — in sport
  24. season — of the year

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