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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: can · object · row · key · roll · bound · ruler · stand

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. I can't ________________ this cold.
  18. We're on a ________________ here.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. key — in music
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. roll — a list
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. ruler — for measuring
  7. key — for a lock
  8. key — the most important part
  9. can — a tin
  10. object — to protest
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. row — to paddle
  14. object — an aim
  15. can — to be able to
  16. bound — tied together
  17. stand — to bear
  18. roll — on a roll
  19. object — a thing
  20. can — a tin
  21. roll — a cake
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. bound — obliged
  24. bound — certain

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