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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
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: saw · ruler · leaves · march · ball · drill · safe · cue

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. He works in a ________________ mill.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. march — the month
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. march — the month
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. drill — the tool
  8. march — music
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. saw — the tool
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. saw — the tool
  14. ball — a great time
  15. cue — for pool
  16. drill — army training
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. cue — a signal
  21. drill — a practice
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. ball — a dance
  24. leaves — lets stay

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