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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: cue · fine · land · bore · object · fan · lash · ball

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  9. The King held a masked ________________.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  17. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bore — to drill
  4. cue — a signal
  5. land — ground
  6. fine — high quality
  7. cue — a hint
  8. object — a thing
  9. ball — a dance
  10. land — a country
  11. land — to come down
  12. bore — to tire
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. bore — gave birth
  17. object — to protest
  18. ball — a great time
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. object — an aim
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fine — all right
  24. lash — an eyelash

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