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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 · mug · wave · rock · ball · court · bound · can

  1. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The ball is in your ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  24. I'll take my ________________ from you.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of a king
  2. cue — for pool
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bound — obliged
  5. court — of law
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. rock — music
  8. rock — a stone
  9. cue — a signal
  10. ball — a dance
  11. mug — to rob
  12. can — to be able to
  13. can — a tin
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. wave — a sudden rise
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bound — certain
  18. court — for sport
  19. can — a tin
  20. wave — of the sea
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. mug — a face
  23. mug — a cup
  24. cue — a hint

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