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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: safe · hand · lash · cue · suit · calf · bound · capital

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  12. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. bound — tied together
  3. capital — a city
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bound — certain
  6. calf — of the leg
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. capital — a big letter
  9. hand — in cards
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. lash — to lash out
  12. capital — money
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. bound — obliged
  15. hand — help
  16. hand — part of the body
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. cue — a signal
  19. suit — to fit
  20. cue — a hint
  21. suit — in cards
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. lash — a whip stroke
  24. suit — clothes

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