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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: drill · land · suit · cabinet · fine · cue · wave · pitcher

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. suit — to fit
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. drill — the tool
  5. fine — all right
  6. suit — clothes
  7. land — a country
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. wave — with your hand
  11. land — to come down
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. fine — high quality
  17. drill — a practice
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. land — ground
  20. cue — a hint
  21. suit — in cards
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. drill — army training
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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