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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 120 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
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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: saw · plane · mine · rash · fine · chip · cue · rock

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. cue — a hint
  4. saw — the tool
  5. rock — a stone
  6. chip — for betting
  7. rash — a series
  8. fine — all right
  9. chip — to eat
  10. plane — a tool
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. saw — the tool
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. rock — music
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. mine — for digging
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. cue — for pool
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. fine — high quality
  24. rash — hasty

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