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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: key · cue · scale · plane · charge · bound · foot · bore

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  19. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  24. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. scale — size or range
  3. bound — obliged
  4. cue — for pool
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. scale — in music
  8. cue — a hint
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bound — certain
  11. foot — a measure
  12. key — in music
  13. charge — in control
  14. bore — to tire
  15. cue — a signal
  16. scale — for weighing
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. foot — part of the body
  19. bore — to drill
  20. key — the most important part
  21. key — for a lock
  22. charge — a price
  23. bore — gave birth
  24. plane — a tool

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