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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: plane · bound · racket · press · bulb · rock · wake · ruler

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  12. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Did you ________________ the button?
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  20. The light ________________ burned out.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  23. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. bound — certain
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. wake — a trail
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. rock — a stone
  9. racket — a loud noise
  10. press — a publisher
  11. plane — a tool
  12. plane — in geometry
  13. bound — tied together
  14. press — to push
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. rock — music
  19. bulb — of a plant
  20. bulb — for light
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. press — newspapers
  23. racket — for tennis
  24. bulb — for light

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