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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: cue · rock · rush · coach · plane · scale · squash · lean

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  20. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. cue — for pool
  4. rock — to move gently
  5. rock — a stone
  6. scale — size or range
  7. lean — thin
  8. squash — the vegetable
  9. cue — a signal
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rush — hurry
  12. squash — to crush
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. cue — a hint
  16. plane — a tool
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. squash — the sport
  20. coach — pulled by horses
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. scale — in music
  23. lean — to bend
  24. rock — music

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