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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. When was this ________________ built?
  8. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. cue — for pool
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. drill — army training
  7. temple — a place of worship
  8. dip — to dunk
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. current — of water
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. drill — the tool
  14. drill — a practice
  15. mark — a grade
  16. dip — to sink
  17. cue — a signal
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. current — happening now
  20. current — electric
  21. stand — to bear
  22. dip — a sauce
  23. cue — a hint
  24. stand — on your feet

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