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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.

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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: hand · nail · cue · race · suit · lie · pit · ball

  1. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The King held a masked ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  19. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  23. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — in cards
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. cue — for pool
  5. ball — a dance
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. suit — clothes
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. lie — to recline
  12. race — the arms race
  13. cue — a signal
  14. suit — to fit
  15. ball — a great time
  16. pit — in a race
  17. pit — a hole
  18. race — a contest
  19. hand — part of the body
  20. hand — help
  21. cue — a hint
  22. race — humankind
  23. pit — a fruit stone
  24. suit — in cards

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