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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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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: bound · foot · racket · present · branch · sharp · deal · drill

  1. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  2. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  5. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  10. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. It's one o'clock ________________.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  20. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  21. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. present — there
  2. foot — part of the body
  3. drill — army training
  4. racket — for tennis
  5. drill — a practice
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bound — tied together
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. drill — the tool
  10. sharp — with an edge
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bound — certain
  13. present — a gift
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. sharp — exactly
  16. deal — to handle
  17. branch — of a bank
  18. branch — a division
  19. present — the time now
  20. deal — a big deal
  21. sharp — clever
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. foot — a measure
  24. foot — the bottom

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