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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: can · row · ruler · coach · cell · pitcher · cue · game

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  5. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. That was a fun ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  13. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  14. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. He was locked up in a ________________.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. He is an ace ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cue — a signal
  3. row — a line
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. game — wild animals
  6. can — to be able to
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. game — a match
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. row — a quarrel
  11. can — a tin
  12. row — to paddle
  13. cell — in biology
  14. cell — a phone
  15. cue — for pool
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. cell — in a prison
  19. can — a tin
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. pitcher — in baseball
  24. cue — a hint

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