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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 116 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. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  12. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  13. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  16. What do you think of the new ________________?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. cue — for pool
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. fork — in a road
  6. bound — obliged
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. cue — a hint
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. bound — certain
  11. plane — in geometry
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. fork — a garden tool
  14. plane — a tool
  15. fork — to eat with
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. bound — tied together
  18. ruler — for measuring

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