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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.

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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: bound · coach · hand · cue · stand · board · last · mug

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. False peace will not ________________.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Have you met the new head ________________?
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  24. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. bound — obliged
  3. last — to go on
  4. mug — a cup
  5. hand — in cards
  6. last — final
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. stand — to bear
  9. cue — a hint
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. bound — certain
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. board — to get on
  15. hand — help
  16. cue — a signal
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. mug — to rob
  19. cue — for pool
  20. last — finally
  21. board — a committee
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. hand — part of the body
  24. mug — a face

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