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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
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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: bass · cue · rush · pop · foot · ruler · pitch · rule

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. We're almost out of ________________.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  22. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. You don't need to ________________ round.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. rule — to rule out
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rule — government
  7. rule — a law
  8. cue — for pool
  9. pop — music
  10. pitch — completely
  11. cue — a signal
  12. pop — soda
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. bass — the fish
  17. foot — a measure
  18. bass — low music
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. rush — hurry
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. pitch — a sales talk
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. pop — to visit

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