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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
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: cue · file · hide · ball · temple · fan · suit · bark

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  3. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  9. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  10. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  22. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  23. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. temple — a place of worship
  3. file — a line of people
  4. suit — in cards
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. cue — a signal
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. file — a tool
  9. bark — of a tree
  10. hide — animal skin
  11. ball — a great time
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ball — a dance
  16. cue — a hint
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. suit — clothes
  19. file — a document
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. temple — side of the head
  22. bark — a dog's sound
  23. bark — to shout
  24. suit — to fit

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