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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 116 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: key · mug · shower · pitcher · ruler · cue · band · stand

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  21. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. cue — a signal
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. stand — to bear
  5. key — the most important part
  6. cue — for pool
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. shower — to wash
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. key — in music
  14. cue — a hint
  15. band — a ring
  16. mug — to rob
  17. key — for a lock
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. mug — a cup
  20. ruler — a monarch
  21. shower — rain
  22. band — a music group
  23. shower — a meteor shower
  24. mug — a face

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