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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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 · chest · wave · key · bound · track · mouse · scale

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  9. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  18. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. track — to keep track
  4. cue — a hint
  5. bound — tied together
  6. bound — obliged
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. mouse — for a computer
  9. chest — a box
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. cue — for pool
  12. track — a path
  13. scale — size or range
  14. key — in music
  15. chest — of your body
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. scale — in music
  19. bound — certain
  20. key — for a lock
  21. chest — of your body
  22. key — the most important part
  23. track — a song
  24. cue — a signal

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