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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. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. He works in a ________________ mill.
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  19. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. swing — music
  3. chip — to eat
  4. hand — help
  5. hand — in cards
  6. saw — the tool
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. fan — to cool the air
  9. deal — to handle
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. saw — the tool
  15. swing — to play on
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. chip — for betting
  19. swing — in golf
  20. cue — a signal
  21. cue — a hint
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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