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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.

Make a worksheet

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
468
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 · staff · bowl · bulb · rule · current · arm · cue

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  19. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  20. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  21. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. rule — government
  3. rule — a law
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. cue — a hint
  7. staff — employees
  8. mine — belonging to me
  9. staff — employees
  10. bowl — a football final
  11. mine — for digging
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bulb — for light
  15. mine — an explosive
  16. current — happening now
  17. bulb — for light
  18. current — of water
  19. current — electric
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. rule — to rule out
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. staff — a stick

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