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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 ________________ went through the wall.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  15. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. cue — a hint
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. wound — an injury
  5. rush — hurry
  6. row — a line
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. cue — for pool
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — past of 'wind'
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. cue — a signal
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. row — to paddle
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. stand — to bear

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