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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bound · chip · board · racket · scale · mark · rush · bass

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. rush — hurry
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. board — a committee
  7. chip — in a computer
  8. bound — tied together
  9. scale — in music
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. scale — size or range
  13. bass — the fish
  14. board — to get on
  15. chip — for betting
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. mark — a grade
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bass — low music
  22. chip — to eat
  23. mark — a trace
  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