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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: bound · pass · nail · cap · wind · cue · mug · stick

  1. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  9. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  10. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  11. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  12. Where did you ________________ them?
  13. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  14. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  15. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  16. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  17. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  18. The ________________ went through the wall.
  19. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. bound — obliged
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. nail — on a finger
  6. cue — for pool
  7. cap — of ice
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. wind — moving air
  10. cap — a lid
  11. mug — a face
  12. mug — to rob
  13. pass — a permit
  14. nail — for a hammer
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. pass — to spend time
  17. cue — a signal
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. mug — a cup
  20. cue — a hint
  21. wind — moving air
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. cap — a hat

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