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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: spell · calf · cue · bound · press · arm · file · saw

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  15. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. How do you ________________ your surname?
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. She's very handy with a ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. file — a document
  3. press — a publisher
  4. cue — a signal
  5. arm — part of the body
  6. bound — certain
  7. press — newspapers
  8. cue — a hint
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. calf — a young animal
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. bound — tied together
  14. spell — a short time
  15. file — a tool
  16. saw — the tool
  17. spell — letters
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. spell — magic
  20. saw — the tool
  21. press — to push
  22. bound — obliged
  23. file — a line of people
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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