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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.

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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. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  13. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. can — a tin
  3. kick — with a leg
  4. net — after costs
  5. band — a music group
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. kick — a thrill
  8. bound — tied together
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. board — a committee
  11. bound — obliged
  12. band — a ring
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bound — certain
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. net — in sport
  17. kick — in football
  18. can — a tin
  19. board — to get on
  20. rock — a stone
  21. net — for catching
  22. rock — music
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. can — to be able to

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