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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 116 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 · cue · lie · pitch · key · rock · court · hide

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  18. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. cue — a signal
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. key — in music
  5. pitch — completely
  6. court — of a king
  7. drill — the tool
  8. key — for a lock
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. court — for sport
  11. rock — a stone
  12. drill — a practice
  13. pitch — a sales talk
  14. key — the most important part
  15. drill — army training
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. court — of law
  18. cue — for pool
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. lie — to recline
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. rock — music
  24. hide — to keep secret

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