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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. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  15. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  16. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  20. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. pitch — completely
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fine — all right
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. cue — a hint
  7. saw — the tool
  8. pitch — a sales talk
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. patient — calm and waiting
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. fall — to drop
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. fine — high quality
  15. patient — a sick person
  16. fall — to drop
  17. saw — the tool
  18. cue — for pool
  19. coach — pulled by horses
  20. pitch — a sports field
  21. cue — a signal
  22. patient — a sick person
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. ruler — a monarch

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