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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: arm · firm · track · bowl · snap · scale · bay · bound

  1. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  4. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  15. My mare is ________________ in color.
  16. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. track — a song
  2. track — to keep track
  3. snap — to click
  4. scale — for weighing
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bowl — a dish
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. scale — size or range
  9. bound — certain
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. snap — to speak sharply
  15. bay — a horse colour
  16. firm — steady
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. firm — decided
  20. track — a path
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. snap — to snap out of it
  23. scale — in music
  24. firm — a company

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