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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: foot · bound · temple · stock · suit · cue · degree · season

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. When was this ________________ built?
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  7. The ________________ market has crashed.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  10. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  11. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  15. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  16. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  22. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  23. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  24. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. bound — certain
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. bound — tied together
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. suit — in cards
  7. stock — shares
  8. season — of the year
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — side of the head
  11. foot — part of the body
  12. suit — clothes
  13. cue — a hint
  14. foot — the bottom
  15. degree — temperature
  16. season — in sport
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. suit — to fit
  19. degree — from a university
  20. bound — obliged
  21. degree — an amount
  22. foot — a measure
  23. stock — goods
  24. cue — for pool

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