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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: ruler · pop · date · key · bound · dip · rush · foot

  1. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. You don't need to ________________ round.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Have you settled on a ________________?
  14. That must've been a ________________.
  15. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  21. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — part of the body
  2. key — in music
  3. dip — a sauce
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. pop — to visit
  6. bound — certain
  7. pop — soda
  8. key — the most important part
  9. bound — obliged
  10. dip — to sink
  11. foot — a measure
  12. bound — tied together
  13. date — on the calendar
  14. rush — a thrill
  15. pop — music
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. rush — hurry
  20. foot — the bottom
  21. key — for a lock
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. date — the fruit

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