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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 116 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: band · lie · prune · bore · chip · cabinet · cue · rush

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. That must've been a ________________.
  18. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  24. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. lie — to recline
  4. chip — to eat
  5. prune — the fruit
  6. prune — to trim
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. cue — a hint
  9. prune — to trim
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. chip — for betting
  13. bore — to tire
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. rush — hurry
  16. cue — for pool
  17. rush — a thrill
  18. band — a ring
  19. bore — to drill
  20. chip — in a computer
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. band — a music group
  23. cue — a signal
  24. lie — an untruth

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