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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: fine · cell · ground · date · calf · bound · squash · cue

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  10. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  11. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  24. He was locked up in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. calf — a young animal
  3. cell — a phone
  4. ground — a position
  5. ground — crushed
  6. cue — for pool
  7. bound — obliged
  8. cue — a hint
  9. squash — the vegetable
  10. calf — of the leg
  11. ground — the earth
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. cue — a signal
  14. bound — certain
  15. cell — in biology
  16. squash — the sport
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. fine — all right
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. fine — high quality
  21. date — the fruit
  22. squash — to crush
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. cell — in a prison

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