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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: ruler · spell · racket · rock · bound · sharp · can · mouse

  1. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. How do you ________________ your surname?
  5. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. rock — music
  3. can — a tin
  4. spell — letters
  5. sharp — clever
  6. can — to be able to
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. spell — a short time
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. bound — tied together
  11. can — a tin
  12. spell — magic
  13. racket — a loud noise
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. rock — a stone
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. bound — certain
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. bound — obliged
  24. mouse — the animal

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