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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
468
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 · drill · straw · pass · cue · sharp · face · mouse

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. She had a strange look on her ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. cue — a hint
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. face — to point toward
  5. straw — dry grass
  6. pass — a permit
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. board — a committee
  11. straw — to clutch at straws
  12. drill — army training
  13. drill — a practice
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. cue — for pool
  16. board — to get on
  17. face — to confront
  18. sharp — clever
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. mouse — for a computer
  21. cue — a signal
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. face — part of the head

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