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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. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Did you ________________ the meat?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a rubber band
  2. season — in sport
  3. band — a music group
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. mark — a grade
  6. mark — a trace
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. mug — a cup
  9. season — to add flavour
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. mug — a face
  13. mug — to rob
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. cue — for pool
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. cue — a hint
  18. season — of the year
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. band — a ring
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. hide — animal skin
  24. cue — a signal

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