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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.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
468
Word bank
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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: perch · lie · pass · cue · rush · rash · cell · can

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Don't do anything ________________.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. He was locked up in a ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  20. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. rash — hasty
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. cell — in a prison
  6. perch — the fish
  7. cue — for pool
  8. perch — for a bird
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. rush — hurry
  13. lie — to recline
  14. can — a tin
  15. can — to be able to
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. cue — a hint
  19. pass — a permit
  20. cell — a phone
  21. rash — a series
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. can — a tin
  24. cell — in biology

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