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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
468
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: bowl · saw · court · cap · ruler · track · rush · cue

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  24. He works in a ________________ mill.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. track — a path
  4. court — of law
  5. cap — of ice
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. cue — a signal
  11. court — of a king
  12. cue — for pool
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. cap — a hat
  16. track — a song
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. cap — a lid
  19. court — for sport
  20. track — to keep track
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. cue — a hint
  23. rush — hurry
  24. saw — the tool

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