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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. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  11. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  12. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  13. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  14. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. face — part of the head
  3. cue — for pool
  4. field — a subject
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. face — to point toward
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. hand — in cards
  10. hand — part of the body
  11. hand — help
  12. field — farmland
  13. field — for sport
  14. face — to confront
  15. cue — a hint
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. mug — a cup
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. mug — a face
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. staff — a stick
  22. cue — a signal
  23. staff — employees
  24. mug — to rob

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