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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. cue — a signal
  3. mug — a cup
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. fan — to cool the air
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. mug — a face
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. lie — to recline
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. cue — a hint
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. cue — for pool
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mug — to rob
  21. rush — hurry
  22. branch — a division
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. branch — of a tree

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