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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  2. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  3. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  24. The kitten curled into a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — the tool
  2. rest — what's left
  3. mark — a trace
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. mark — a grade
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. mark — to pay attention
  8. drill — army training
  9. bound — certain
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — of a river
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. ball — a dance
  15. ball — a great time
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rest — a break
  18. bound — tied together
  19. rest — what's left
  20. bound — obliged
  21. drill — a practice
  22. bank — for money
  23. stick — to attach or keep to
  24. ball — a round shape

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