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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 124 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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. The ________________ took off on time.
  8. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  9. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  10. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  11. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  23. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. mate — a friend
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. plane — a tool
  5. content — the amount
  6. suit — clothes
  7. plane — an aircraft
  8. cue — for pool
  9. staff — employees
  10. cue — a signal
  11. wake — before a funeral
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. staff — a stick
  14. content — happy
  15. bound — tied together
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. bound — certain
  18. wake — a trail
  19. suit — in cards
  20. staff — employees
  21. suit — to fit
  22. mate — to breed
  23. cue — a hint
  24. mate — a partner

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