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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: mine · rock · sharp · cue · rest · suit · saw · lie

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. He works in a ________________ mill.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  15. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  16. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. When will it ________________ you to start?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. saw — the tool
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. rest — what's left
  8. saw — the tool
  9. cue — for pool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. lie — to recline
  13. rock — a stone
  14. rest — a break
  15. suit — in cards
  16. sharp — clever
  17. cue — a signal
  18. suit — clothes
  19. cue — a hint
  20. lie — an untruth
  21. mine — for digging
  22. suit — to fit
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. rock — music

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