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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  7. That was a fun ________________.
  8. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  13. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cue — a hint
  3. firm — decided
  4. cue — for pool
  5. band — a music group
  6. game — wild animals
  7. game — a match
  8. rush — hurry
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. board — to get on
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. band — a rubber band
  13. firm — a company
  14. board — a committee
  15. band — a ring
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. firm — steady
  24. safe — out of danger

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