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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: bound · bulb · mark · cue · ruler · fine · foot · jam

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  6. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  15. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. cue — a signal
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. fine — high quality
  5. foot — a measure
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. cue — a hint
  9. bulb — of a plant
  10. bound — tied together
  11. mark — a grade
  12. bulb — for light
  13. fine — all right
  14. cue — for pool
  15. fine — a penalty
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. bound — certain
  18. jam — in traffic
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bulb — for light
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mark — a trace
  24. bound — obliged

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