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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: drill · mouse · bound · scale · track · suit · board · press

  1. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  10. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  19. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  20. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  21. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  22. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. drill — a practice
  5. drill — the tool
  6. bound — tied together
  7. track — a song
  8. bound — obliged
  9. mouse — the animal
  10. press — newspapers
  11. board — a committee
  12. track — to keep track
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. press — to push
  15. scale — size or range
  16. bound — certain
  17. track — a path
  18. suit — in cards
  19. press — a publisher
  20. scale — for weighing
  21. suit — clothes
  22. scale — in music
  23. board — to get on
  24. drill — army training

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