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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.

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: squash · cue · mug · pit · rash · date · board · lie

  1. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  5. Don't do anything ________________.
  6. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  7. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Where did you ________________ them?
  10. Have you settled on a ________________?
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  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. squash — to crush
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. lie — to recline
  4. pit — a fruit stone
  5. rash — hasty
  6. cue — a hint
  7. rash — a series
  8. board — to get on
  9. mug — to rob
  10. date — on the calendar
  11. mug — a cup
  12. squash — the vegetable
  13. pit — a hole
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. board — a committee
  16. mug — a face
  17. pit — in a race
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. squash — the sport
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. date — the fruit
  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