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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: bay · sharp · fall · saw · pass · ruler · cue · fork

  1. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. My mare is ________________ in color.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  21. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — to drop
  2. saw — the tool
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. fall — the season
  5. fork — in a road
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bay — a horse colour
  9. sharp — clever
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. cue — for pool
  12. fork — a garden tool
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. pass — a permit
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. fork — to eat with
  19. cue — a signal
  20. pass — to spend time
  21. bay — to keep at bay
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. cue — a hint
  24. fall — to drop

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