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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: face · pass · present · ruler · bound · land · cue · tube

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. I'll be taking the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  5. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  6. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  11. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  17. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  18. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. tube — the underground
  3. bound — obliged
  4. face — part of the head
  5. present — the time now
  6. cue — a signal
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. present — a gift
  10. land — ground
  11. cue — a hint
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bound — certain
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. bound — tied together
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. face — to confront
  18. land — a country
  19. cue — for pool
  20. tube — a container
  21. face — to point toward
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. land — to come down
  24. present — there

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