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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: bore · net · mark · saw · cue · rock · lie · snap

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  10. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. saw — the tool
  4. cue — a hint
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. rock — music
  7. rock — a stone
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. net — in sport
  10. rock — to move gently
  11. cue — a signal
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. net — after costs
  15. net — for catching
  16. mark — a grade
  17. saw — the tool
  18. lie — to recline
  19. snap — to click
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. mark — a trace
  22. bore — to drill
  23. bore — to tire
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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