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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: can · last · mine · stand · content · bowl · cue · ruler

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  14. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  24. The people resisted their cruel ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. content — happy
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. stand — to bear
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. can — a tin
  7. bowl — to roll
  8. can — a tin
  9. content — videos and posts
  10. last — to go on
  11. cue — for pool
  12. cue — a hint
  13. content — the amount
  14. stand — on your feet
  15. mine — for digging
  16. last — finally
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. can — to be able to
  20. mine — an explosive
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. last — final
  23. bowl — a dish
  24. ruler — a monarch

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