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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: lie · bound · rash · rock · charge · bat · bay · cue

  1. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  2. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  3. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The tickets are free of ________________.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  8. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  9. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bat — in an idiom
  2. cue — for pool
  3. lie — to recline
  4. rock — a stone
  5. charge — a price
  6. rash — a series
  7. bat — the animal
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. bat — for baseball
  13. cue — a hint
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bound — certain
  17. rash — hasty
  18. charge — electricity
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. charge — in control
  22. cue — a signal
  23. bound — obliged
  24. rock — music

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