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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: bound · foot · bass · pop · mine · cue · racket · ruler

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. You don't need to ________________ round.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  17. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bound — tied together
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. bound — certain
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. pop — to visit
  9. pop — soda
  10. cue — a hint
  11. foot — a measure
  12. racket — a loud noise
  13. cue — a signal
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mine — for digging
  16. bass — low music
  17. pop — music
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bound — obliged
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. bass — the fish
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bass — the instrument

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