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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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. staff — a stick
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. march — music
  5. toast — bread
  6. prune — to trim
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. prune — to trim
  9. stand — to bear
  10. march — the month
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cue — a hint
  16. cue — for pool
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. staff — employees
  19. stand — for spectators
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. march — the month
  22. staff — employees
  23. toast — the most admired
  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