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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 116 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: cue · press · dip · charge · bound · bulb · court · lie

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. The light ________________ burned out.
  3. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  6. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  18. The tickets are free of ________________.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  21. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bulb — for light
  3. dip — to dunk
  4. cue — a signal
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. charge — electricity
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. press — to push
  9. cue — for pool
  10. press — newspapers
  11. court — of law
  12. bound — certain
  13. court — of a king
  14. court — for sport
  15. cue — a hint
  16. bulb — for light
  17. dip — a sauce
  18. charge — a price
  19. charge — in control
  20. dip — to sink
  21. lie — to recline
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bulb — of a plant
  24. bound — tied together

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