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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: mouse · charge · cue · ruler · firm · tube · kick · fork

  1. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. The tickets are free of ________________.
  9. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. I'll be taking the ________________.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  22. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. kick — with a leg
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. tube — a container
  4. fork — in a road
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. firm — steady
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. charge — a price
  9. firm — decided
  10. kick — in football
  11. cue — a hint
  12. ruler — a monarch
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. cue — a signal
  16. firm — a company
  17. cue — for pool
  18. tube — the underground
  19. charge — electricity
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. kick — a thrill
  22. fork — to eat with
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. charge — in control

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