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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
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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: wake · capital · bound · arm · club · present · bay · pitcher

  1. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  2. My father caught me by the ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  19. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.

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

Answer key

  1. club — a group
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. present — the time now
  4. bay — to keep at bay
  5. bound — certain
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bound — obliged
  9. present — a gift
  10. wake — a trail
  11. capital — a city
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. club — for golf
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. capital — money
  17. club — for dancing
  18. capital — a big letter
  19. wake — before a funeral
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bound — tied together
  22. present — there
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. arm — part of the body

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