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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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: cue · hide · stand · ruler · mark · chip

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. cue — for pool
  6. mark — a trace
  7. chip — to eat
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. stand — to bear
  10. cue — a signal
  11. mark — a grade
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. cue — a hint
  15. chip — for betting
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. stand — for spectators

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