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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: sharp · pitcher · foot · ruler · bound · nail · key · cabinet

  1. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  4. This piece is in a major ________________.
  5. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  10. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The ________________ went through the wall.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. bound — tied together
  3. sharp — clever
  4. key — in music
  5. cabinet — a cupboard
  6. bound — obliged
  7. key — the most important part
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. foot — a measure
  10. foot — the bottom
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. nail — for a hammer
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. key — for a lock
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bound — certain
  24. foot — part of the body

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