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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
468
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: branch · drill · bay · bound · pound · lash · ball · degree

  1. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. The King held a masked ________________.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  10. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. My mare is ________________ in color.
  19. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  20. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  21. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  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. bay — to keep at bay
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. ball — a dance
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. drill — army training
  6. bound — certain
  7. bound — tied together
  8. degree — an amount
  9. branch — a division
  10. pound — for dogs
  11. drill — the tool
  12. degree — from a university
  13. ball — a great time
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. drill — a practice
  18. bay — a horse colour
  19. ball — a round shape
  20. lash — an eyelash
  21. pound — a weight
  22. bound — obliged
  23. degree — temperature
  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