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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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. cue — a hint
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. patient — a sick person
  5. can — a tin
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. patient — calm and waiting
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. stick — a piece of wood
  12. cue — for pool
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. cue — a signal
  16. mug — to rob
  17. stick — to attach or keep to
  18. mug — a cup
  19. can — a tin
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. can — to be able to
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bowl — a dish

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