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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 116 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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  4. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bark — of a tree
  4. current — happening now
  5. cue — a signal
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. bark — a dog's sound
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fine — high quality
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. bark — to shout
  16. land — ground
  17. rush — hurry
  18. fine — all right
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. current — of water
  21. current — electric
  22. land — a country
  23. cue — a hint
  24. land — to come down

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