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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: cue · ruler · saw · rash · cap · bass · march · suit

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. She's very handy with a ________________.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. bass — the fish
  3. suit — clothes
  4. suit — in cards
  5. cap — a hat
  6. march — the month
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. cue — for pool
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. cue — a hint
  12. rash — a series
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. cap — of ice
  15. cap — a lid
  16. saw — the tool
  17. march — music
  18. rash — on the skin
  19. bass — low music
  20. suit — to fit
  21. rash — hasty
  22. saw — the tool
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. march — the month

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