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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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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: pit · snap · file · cue · rush · suit · nail · toast

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  17. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. file — a tool
  4. toast — bread
  5. pit — in a race
  6. snap — to click
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. suit — clothes
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. suit — to fit
  13. pit — a hole
  14. suit — in cards
  15. cue — a hint
  16. file — a document
  17. file — a line of people
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. toast — a drink to someone
  21. rush — hurry
  22. cue — for pool
  23. snap — to speak sharply
  24. nail — on a finger

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