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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: roll · season · sharp · plane · rule · cabinet · shower · cue

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  9. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. We're on a ________________ here.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. season — in sport
  3. cue — a signal
  4. cue — a hint
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. rule — government
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. shower — a meteor shower
  9. cabinet — a cupboard
  10. shower — to wash
  11. sharp — clever
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. roll — on a roll
  14. cue — for pool
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. plane — a tool
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. roll — a list
  19. season — of the year
  20. shower — rain
  21. roll — a cake
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. season — to add flavour

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