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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. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  23. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  24. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. mark — a grade
  3. bound — obliged
  4. cue — a hint
  5. mark — a trace
  6. root — of a word
  7. scale — size or range
  8. lie — to recline
  9. cue — for pool
  10. scale — in music
  11. cue — a signal
  12. chair — a leader
  13. bound — tied together
  14. root — of a plant
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. root — the cause
  19. bass — low music
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. bass — the fish
  22. mark — to pay attention
  23. chair — to sit on
  24. chair — a professorship

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