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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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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: saw · nail · safe · cue · pop · bowl · roll · board

  1. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  10. We're on a ________________ here.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The ________________ went through the wall.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. We're almost out of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — a list
  2. cue — a signal
  3. board — a committee
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. saw — the tool
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. pop — to visit
  9. saw — past of 'see'
  10. roll — on a roll
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. pop — music
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. board — to get on
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. cue — for pool
  17. roll — a cake
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. nail — for a hammer
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. saw — the tool
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. cue — a hint
  24. pop — soda

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