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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 120 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: mark · mate · key · bound · cue · bowl · rush · land

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. When are we going to ________________?
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. mark — a trace
  3. bound — tied together
  4. rush — to hurry
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. mate — a partner
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. mate — a friend
  9. cue — a hint
  10. land — to come down
  11. cue — for pool
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. key — the most important part
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. cue — a signal
  17. key — in music
  18. mate — to breed
  19. bound — obliged
  20. bound — certain
  21. key — for a lock
  22. land — ground
  23. mark — a grade
  24. rush — hurry

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