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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: pop · bound · key · cell · nail · squash · wave · cue

  1. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  5. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  6. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  7. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  8. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  9. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. He was locked up in a ________________.
  14. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. This piece is in a major ________________.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — a hint
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. bound — tied together
  4. wave — of the sea
  5. cue — for pool
  6. cell — a phone
  7. wave — a sudden rise
  8. cell — in biology
  9. cue — a signal
  10. pop — music
  11. squash — to crush
  12. bound — certain
  13. cell — in a prison
  14. squash — the sport
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. pop — soda
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. bound — obliged
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. key — the most important part
  21. key — for a lock
  22. pop — to visit
  23. key — in music
  24. squash — the vegetable

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