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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: cue · toast · can · staff · bound · spring · ball · bank

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. can — a tin
  4. cue — a signal
  5. spring — of water
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a dance
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. staff — a stick
  10. cue — for pool
  11. bound — certain
  12. can — a tin
  13. bank — for money
  14. staff — employees
  15. toast — bread
  16. bank — for money
  17. can — to be able to
  18. cue — a hint
  19. staff — employees
  20. toast — the most admired
  21. bound — obliged
  22. spring — a coil
  23. spring — the season
  24. bank — of a river

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