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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: foot · chest · bound · leaves · ruler · bank · suit · spell

  1. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  2. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  10. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. When will it ________________ you to start?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. foot — a measure
  2. chest — of your body
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. chest — of your body
  5. bound — obliged
  6. spell — a short time
  7. chest — a box
  8. bound — certain
  9. leaves — of a tree
  10. foot — part of the body
  11. suit — clothes
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. bank — of a river
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. bank — for money
  17. spell — magic
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. suit — to fit
  21. bank — for money
  22. bound — tied together
  23. suit — in cards
  24. spell — letters

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