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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: board · key · race · mine · bound · cue · roll · ruler

  1. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  2. We're on a ________________ here.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  16. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  17. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  24. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.

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

Answer key

  1. race — the arms race
  2. roll — on a roll
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. cue — a hint
  5. cue — a signal
  6. race — a contest
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. board — a committee
  9. mine — for digging
  10. roll — a list
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bound — obliged
  13. roll — a cake
  14. key — the most important part
  15. mine — belonging to me
  16. race — humankind
  17. key — for a lock
  18. bound — certain
  19. key — in music
  20. cue — for pool
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. bound — tied together
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. board — to get on

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