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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. last — finally
  3. snap — to speak sharply
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bound — obliged
  6. cue — for pool
  7. charge — electricity
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. last — final
  11. snap — to click
  12. bank — of a river
  13. cue — a hint
  14. bank — for money
  15. charge — a price
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. hand — help
  18. last — to go on
  19. bank — for money
  20. charge — in control
  21. bound — certain
  22. hand — in cards
  23. plane — in geometry
  24. cue — a signal

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