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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: wake · mate · toast · cue · hide · bound · racket · face

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  3. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Have you found your soul ________________?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  14. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. face — to point toward
  4. bound — tied together
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. face — to confront
  8. toast — bread
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. mate — a partner
  11. mate — to breed
  12. mate — a friend
  13. racket — for tennis
  14. toast — a drink to someone
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. cue — for pool
  17. bound — certain
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. cue — a hint
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. cue — a signal
  22. bound — obliged
  23. face — part of the head
  24. hide — to keep secret

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