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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: hide · cap · bore · stand · spell · net · toast · cue

  1. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  14. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  18. How do you ________________ your surname?
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — in sport
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. stand — to bear
  5. cap — a lid
  6. net — after costs
  7. cue — for pool
  8. spell — a short time
  9. net — for catching
  10. cue — a hint
  11. stand — for spectators
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. cap — a hat
  14. hide — animal skin
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. toast — bread
  17. bore — to drill
  18. spell — letters
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. cue — a signal
  21. bore — to tire
  22. cap — of ice
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. spell — magic

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