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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: ground · cue · board · face · mug · pit · ruler · toast

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  10. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  11. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. cue — a hint
  4. toast — bread
  5. cue — for pool
  6. face — part of the head
  7. face — to confront
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. pit — in a race
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. face — to point toward
  12. board — a committee
  13. mug — a face
  14. ground — the earth
  15. board — to get on
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. pit — a hole
  18. ground — a position
  19. cue — a signal
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. ground — crushed
  22. mug — a cup
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. mug — to rob

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