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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: hide · nail · cue · leaves · lash · pitcher · pound · toast

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. cue — a hint
  6. cue — a signal
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. nail — on a finger
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pound — a weight
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. lash — an eyelash
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. toast — bread
  19. lash — to lash out
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. pound — to hit hard

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