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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: toast · cue · spring · bulb · suit · nail · ruler · net

  1. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. When will it ________________ you to start?
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The light ________________ burned out.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. spring — a coil
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. net — after costs
  6. bulb — of a plant
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. cue — a hint
  9. cue — a signal
  10. suit — in cards
  11. suit — to fit
  12. suit — clothes
  13. bulb — for light
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. net — for catching
  16. spring — of water
  17. spring — the season
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bulb — for light
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. net — in sport
  22. cue — for pool
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. toast — bread

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