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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: bound · can · pound · lie · squash · charge · vault · wax

  1. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  2. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  12. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  19. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  20. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  21. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  22. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  23. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  24. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. charge — electricity
  3. bound — certain
  4. bound — obliged
  5. squash — to crush
  6. pound — a weight
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. charge — a price
  10. can — to be able to
  11. vault — a safe
  12. wax — to grow
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. can — a tin
  15. lie — to recline
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. bound — tied together
  18. vault — an arched ceiling
  19. charge — in control
  20. wax — in the ear
  21. squash — the sport
  22. vault — in gymnastics
  23. squash — the vegetable
  24. pound — to hit hard

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