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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. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. The ________________ went through the wall.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — certain
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. suit — clothes
  5. row — to paddle
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. ball — a dance
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. chair — a leader
  11. cue — a signal
  12. suit — in cards
  13. suit — to fit
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. ball — a great time
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cue — for pool
  18. row — a line
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. cue — a hint
  22. bound — obliged
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. ball — a round shape

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