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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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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: hide · bulb · deal · cue · bowl · leaves · ruler · pitcher

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  16. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. cue — a hint
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bowl — a football final
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bulb — for light
  11. cue — a signal
  12. deal — to handle
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. bulb — for light
  15. deal — an agreement
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. bowl — a dish
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. cue — for pool
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. bulb — of a plant

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