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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 · stick · cue · key · fine · rock · net · bark

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  4. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  5. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  6. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  10. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  17. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  18. This piece is in a major ________________.
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bark — a dog's sound
  4. cue — for pool
  5. cue — a signal
  6. key — for a lock
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bark — to shout
  9. stick — a piece of wood
  10. stick — to attach or keep to
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. net — for catching
  13. fine — all right
  14. net — after costs
  15. fine — high quality
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. cue — a hint
  18. key — in music
  19. rock — music
  20. net — in sport
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bark — of a tree
  23. key — the most important part
  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