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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 · toast · fine · bound · lie · cue · rule · rest

  1. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. How do you ________________ your surname?
  10. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  20. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. rest — what's left
  2. fine — high quality
  3. bound — obliged
  4. spell — a short time
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. toast — bread
  7. spell — magic
  8. lie — to recline
  9. spell — letters
  10. rule — government
  11. rest — a break
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. cue — a hint
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. rest — what's left
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bound — certain
  18. bound — tied together
  19. rule — a law
  20. cue — for pool
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. fine — all right
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. cue — a signal

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