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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 116 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: cue · board · snap · lie · nail · bound · perch · march

  1. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  4. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  5. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  6. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  13. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bound — tied together
  3. nail — on a finger
  4. march — the month
  5. perch — the fish
  6. snap — to speak sharply
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. bound — certain
  9. cue — for pool
  10. march — the month
  11. board — a committee
  12. march — music
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. cue — a hint
  19. bound — obliged
  20. cue — a signal
  21. board — to get on
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. lie — to recline
  24. snap — to click

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