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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: rest · cue · rush · bound · jam · scale · fork · fine

  1. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  19. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  22. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  23. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  24. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.

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

Answer key

  1. cue — for pool
  2. fork — in a road
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. jam — a tight spot
  5. rest — what's left
  6. scale — in music
  7. bound — tied together
  8. bound — certain
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. fine — all right
  11. rest — a break
  12. scale — for weighing
  13. fine — high quality
  14. rest — what's left
  15. bound — obliged
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. rush — hurry
  18. cue — a signal
  19. scale — size or range
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. cue — a hint
  22. fine — a penalty
  23. fork — a garden tool
  24. fork — to eat with

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