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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 go backstage without a ________________.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  5. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. wound — an injury
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. straw — to clutch at straws
  5. pass — to spend time
  6. cue — a signal
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. fan — to cool the air
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. cue — for pool
  13. rush — hurry
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. cue — a hint
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. wound — past of 'wind'
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. pass — to succeed
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. wound — an injury

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