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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: board · hide · tube · patient · mark · rock · cue · drill

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. I'll be taking the ________________.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. patient — a sick person
  3. rock — music
  4. cue — a signal
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. board — to get on
  8. drill — a practice
  9. tube — the underground
  10. board — a committee
  11. mark — to pay attention
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. cue — a hint
  14. drill — the tool
  15. mark — a grade
  16. drill — army training
  17. cue — for pool
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. mark — a trace
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. tube — a container

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