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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  3. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  13. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  14. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. plane — in geometry
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. nail — on a finger
  8. plane — a tool
  9. bound — obliged
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. bound — certain
  12. deal — an agreement
  13. cue — for pool
  14. racket — a loud noise
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. cue — a hint
  17. bound — tied together
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. deal — to handle
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. chair — to sit on
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. chair — a leader

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