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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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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 · spell · net · nail · rock · bay · ruler · pop

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. We're almost out of ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. spell — letters
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. rock — music
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. net — in sport
  9. pop — music
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. spell — a short time
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. net — after costs
  14. pop — to visit
  15. pop — soda
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — obliged
  18. net — for catching
  19. ruler — a monarch
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. spell — magic
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. nail — on a finger

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