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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.

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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: bank · saw · stock · ruler · arm · wax · pitch · bound

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  5. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  24. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stock — goods
  5. pitch — a sales talk
  6. bound — certain
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. stock — shares
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. saw — the tool
  11. bank — of a river
  12. wax — for sculpting
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. bank — for money
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. pitch — completely
  20. bank — for money
  21. wax — in the ear
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. wax — to grow
  24. ruler — for measuring

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