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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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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 · mate · deal · cue · bulb · racket · staff · wind

  1. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. I've got to change the light ________________.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. staff — employees
  3. cue — for pool
  4. cue — a signal
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. mate — a friend
  9. mate — to breed
  10. bulb — for light
  11. wind — moving air
  12. cue — a hint
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. wind — moving air
  16. staff — employees
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. mate — a partner
  19. bound — tied together
  20. staff — a stick
  21. bound — certain
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. bound — obliged
  24. racket — for tennis

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