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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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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: ruler · cue · deal · lash · mate · spring · staff · squash

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  3. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  4. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  5. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  17. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. ruler — a monarch
  3. squash — to crush
  4. mate — to breed
  5. spring — a coil
  6. cue — for pool
  7. staff — a stick
  8. staff — employees
  9. deal — to handle
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. spring — the season
  12. staff — employees
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. squash — the sport
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. squash — the vegetable
  17. spring — of water
  18. mate — a partner
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. lash — to lash out
  21. cue — a hint
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. mate — a friend
  24. cue — a signal

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