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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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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: clip · cue · cap · hand · ruler · pit · ball · fine

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  5. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. clip — a video
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. fine — all right
  5. cap — a lid
  6. cue — for pool
  7. ball — a great time
  8. hand — help
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pit — a hole
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. clip — for paper
  13. cap — of ice
  14. ball — a dance
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. clip — to cut
  17. cue — a signal
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. fine — high quality
  20. cue — a hint
  21. pit — a fruit stone
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. hand — in cards
  24. cap — a hat

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