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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: cue · lie · bore · pop · staff · can · board · pit

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. We're almost out of ________________.
  12. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. bore — to tire
  3. pit — a hole
  4. cue — for pool
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. board — a committee
  7. board — to get on
  8. pit — in a race
  9. pit — a fruit stone
  10. staff — employees
  11. pop — soda
  12. pop — music
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bore — to drill
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — to recline
  17. staff — a stick
  18. can — a tin
  19. staff — employees
  20. cue — a signal
  21. pop — to visit
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. can — a tin
  24. lie — an untruth

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