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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  16. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. cue — a signal
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. bound — obliged
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. bound — certain
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. cue — a hint
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mark — a trace
  15. lash — an eyelash
  16. lash — to lash out
  17. mark — a grade
  18. bound — tied together

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