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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.

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: bass · ruler · hand · swing · wound · capital · cue · staff

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. David sat on the ________________.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. capital — money
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. bass — low music
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. cue — for pool
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. swing — in golf
  9. staff — a stick
  10. hand — in cards
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. wound — an injury
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. hand — help
  15. wound — an injury
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. staff — employees
  18. capital — a city
  19. cue — a signal
  20. bass — the fish
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. swing — to play on
  23. staff — employees
  24. swing — music

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