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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: rash · can · cue · cabinet · march · fan · nail · ruler

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  4. What do you think of the new ________________?
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Don't do anything ________________.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  21. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  22. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  23. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. march — the month
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. cue — a signal
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. march — the month
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. cue — a hint
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. can — to be able to
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. rash — hasty
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rash — a series
  20. can — a tin
  21. fan — a supporter
  22. can — a tin
  23. cue — for pool
  24. march — music

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