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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: cue · ruler · cap · fan · squash · stand · drill · bank

  1. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. I can't ________________ this cold.
  15. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  23. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  24. I'd like to play a game of ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cap — a lid
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. squash — the vegetable
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. cap — a hat
  6. cue — a signal
  7. cue — for pool
  8. drill — the tool
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. cue — a hint
  11. squash — to crush
  12. bank — of a river
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. stand — to bear
  15. cap — of ice
  16. bank — for money
  17. drill — army training
  18. drill — a practice
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. bank — for money
  22. ruler — a monarch
  23. stand — on your feet
  24. squash — the sport

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