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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. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  15. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  16. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  17. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  21. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — a trace
  2. bound — certain
  3. cue — a signal
  4. mark — a grade
  5. spell — letters
  6. bound — tied together
  7. calf — of the leg
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. cue — for pool
  12. spell — a short time
  13. pit — a hole
  14. band — a rubber band
  15. pit — a fruit stone
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. pit — in a race
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. band — a ring
  20. band — a music group
  21. calf — a young animal
  22. cue — a hint
  23. spell — magic
  24. mouse — the animal

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