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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 · current · firm · toast · ruler · bay · wound · root

  1. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  8. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  11. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  12. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  24. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. firm — steady
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. cue — a hint
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. toast — bread
  7. firm — decided
  8. firm — a company
  9. root — the cause
  10. root — of a word
  11. wound — an injury
  12. cue — a signal
  13. current — of water
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. cue — for pool
  16. wound — past of 'wind'
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. root — of a plant
  21. current — happening now
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. wound — an injury
  24. current — electric

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