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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  9. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  12. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. drill — a practice
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. cue — for pool
  6. suit — clothes
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. fall — to drop
  9. lash — a whip stroke
  10. drill — army training
  11. bowl — a dish
  12. bowl — to roll
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. mark — a grade
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. fall — to drop
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. cue — a hint
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. suit — in cards
  21. mark — a trace
  22. fall — the season
  23. cue — a signal
  24. drill — the tool

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