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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: bound · ruler · pop · dip · mark · pass

  1. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  2. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  3. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  4. You don't need to ________________ round.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  8. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  9. We're almost out of ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. mark — to pay attention
  3. dip — to sink
  4. pop — to visit
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bound — tied together
  7. dip — to dunk
  8. pass — to succeed
  9. pop — soda
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. mark — a trace
  12. mark — a grade
  13. pop — music
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. pass — a permit
  17. bound — certain
  18. 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