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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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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: ruler · bay · bowl · cue · pop · date · hide · board

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  15. Have you settled on a ________________?
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  19. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  20. You don't need to ________________ round.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  23. We're almost out of ________________.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. cue — for pool
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bowl — to roll
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. cue — a signal
  11. date — on the calendar
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. pop — music
  15. date — on the calendar
  16. board — a committee
  17. cue — a hint
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. pop — to visit
  21. date — the fruit
  22. bowl — a football final
  23. pop — soda
  24. board — to get on

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