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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: rest · bound · bay · safe · bear · cue · hide · sharp

  1. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  2. It's one o'clock ________________.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. My mare is ________________ in color.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a signal
  2. sharp — exactly
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. rest — what's left
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. rest — what's left
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bound — obliged
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bear — the animal
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bound — certain
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. bound — tied together
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. cue — for pool
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bay — a horse colour
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. rest — a break
  24. hide — to keep secret

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