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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: ground · rash · can · spell · nail · arm · ruler · cue

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  8. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  9. Don't do anything ________________.
  10. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. There's no middle ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. can — a tin
  3. cue — for pool
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. rash — a series
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. ground — crushed
  8. spell — magic
  9. rash — hasty
  10. rash — on the skin
  11. can — a tin
  12. ground — the earth
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. nail — on a finger
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. cue — a hint
  18. can — to be able to
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. cue — a signal
  21. spell — letters
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. ground — a position

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