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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 112 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: lie · pop · rush · chip · cue · deal · row · rock

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. chip — for betting
  3. chip — in a computer
  4. cue — a hint
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. row — a line
  7. rush — hurry
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. rock — a stone
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pop — music
  12. deal — a big deal
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. chip — to eat
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. row — to paddle
  17. rock — to move gently
  18. cue — a signal
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. pop — soda
  21. pop — to visit
  22. rock — music
  23. deal — to handle
  24. row — a quarrel

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