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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. My mare is ________________ in color.
  3. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. Have you met the new head ________________?
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. bay — a horse colour
  3. arm — a part of something
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. foot — a measure
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. fall — to drop
  10. arm — part of the body
  11. cue — a signal
  12. fall — the season
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. bay — a part of the sea
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. fall — to drop
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. cue — a hint

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