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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 120 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: club · rash · mark · board · ruler · arm · bound · racket

  1. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  9. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  10. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  11. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  12. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a committee
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. mark — a trace
  5. rash — on the skin
  6. rash — hasty
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. board — a flat piece
  10. club — for dancing
  11. racket — a loud noise
  12. club — for golf
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. mark — a grade
  16. bound — tied together
  17. rash — a series
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bound — certain
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. bound — obliged
  22. board — to get on
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. club — a group

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