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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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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: press · stick · ball · pound · bound · drill · cue · bay

  1. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  13. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. press — newspapers
  2. bound — obliged
  3. cue — a signal
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. pound — a weight
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. bound — tied together
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. press — a publisher
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. ball — a dance
  12. stick — a piece of wood
  13. drill — the tool
  14. press — to push
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. cue — a hint
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. drill — army training
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. cue — for pool
  21. drill — a practice
  22. ball — a great time
  23. bound — certain
  24. bay — a horse colour

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