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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: nail · staff · cue · vault · rush · swing · bound · mine

  1. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. The ________________ went through the wall.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  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. swing — in golf
  2. staff — employees
  3. cue — for pool
  4. rush — hurry
  5. staff — a stick
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. cue — a hint
  8. swing — to play on
  9. bound — certain
  10. vault — in gymnastics
  11. staff — employees
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. bound — obliged
  14. swing — music
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mine — for digging
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. vault — a safe
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mine — an explosive
  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