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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 120 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 will it ________________ you to start?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. foot — a measure
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. bound — certain
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. cue — a hint
  9. foot — part of the body
  10. band — a ring
  11. cue — for pool
  12. suit — clothes
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. bay — a part of the sea
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. bound — obliged
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. cue — a signal
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. band — a music group
  24. suit — in cards

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