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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 I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  6. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. bound — certain
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. mark — a grade
  5. staff — employees
  6. fine — high quality
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. bound — obliged
  11. staff — a stick
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. staff — employees
  14. mark — a trace
  15. fine — all right
  16. bound — tied together
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. cue — a hint
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. cue — for pool
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. deal — to handle
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. deal — an agreement

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