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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: bound · key · cue · wave · pitcher · arm · season · patient

  1. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  3. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  6. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He is an ace ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  13. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. wave — with your hand
  3. wave — of the sea
  4. cue — a signal
  5. patient — calm and waiting
  6. patient — a sick person
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. pitcher — in baseball
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. cue — for pool
  11. key — in music
  12. season — of the year
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bound — tied together
  16. wave — a sudden rise
  17. bound — certain
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. key — the most important part
  21. cue — a hint
  22. key — for a lock
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bound — obliged

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