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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 120 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: can · arm · cue · tube · ruler · saw · last · staff

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. My father caught me by the ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  18. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. At ________________, we arrived at the village.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. staff — a stick
  3. last — to go on
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. can — a tin
  10. tube — a container
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. can — to be able to
  14. tube — the underground
  15. saw — the tool
  16. cue — for pool
  17. last — final
  18. staff — employees
  19. saw — the tool
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. can — a tin
  22. staff — employees
  23. cue — a hint
  24. last — finally

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