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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.

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: cue · wake · ruler · lie · safe · cap · pitcher · nail

  1. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He is an ace ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — to recline
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. cap — a hat
  4. cue — for pool
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. pitcher — in baseball
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. cue — a hint
  14. wake — a trail
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. cap — of ice
  22. cue — a signal
  23. cap — a lid
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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