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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. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  7. Have you met the new head ________________?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  14. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. cue — a hint
  3. band — a music group
  4. bound — tied together
  5. saw — the tool
  6. saw — past of 'see'
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. bound — obliged
  9. board — a committee
  10. toast — the most admired
  11. bound — certain
  12. board — to get on
  13. firm — steady
  14. firm — decided
  15. toast — bread
  16. cue — a signal
  17. band — a rubber band
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. band — a ring
  21. saw — the tool
  22. firm — a company
  23. coach — pulled by horses
  24. coach — a trainer

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