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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: lie · drill · snap · nail · sharp · fan · patient · cue

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  15. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  19. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  24. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. cue — for pool
  3. drill — a practice
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. drill — army training
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. drill — the tool
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. patient — calm and waiting
  15. snap — to click
  16. cue — a signal
  17. lie — to recline
  18. patient — a sick person
  19. sharp — clever
  20. cue — a hint
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. patient — a sick person

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