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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 120 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. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. band — a music group
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. suit — clothes
  6. band — a ring
  7. drill — a practice
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. drill — the tool
  10. content — the amount
  11. drill — army training
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cue — a hint
  14. suit — to fit
  15. cue — a signal
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. suit — in cards
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. content — videos and posts
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. content — happy
  24. lash — to lash out

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