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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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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: squash · bound · stem · tube · pitcher · swing · arm · bank

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  8. David sat on the ________________.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. stem — to come from
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. swing — music
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. arm — part of the body
  8. swing — to play on
  9. tube — a container
  10. bank — for money
  11. stem — a stem cell
  12. bank — for money
  13. squash — the sport
  14. bound — obliged
  15. squash — to crush
  16. bank — of a river
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. squash — the vegetable
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. tube — the underground
  22. stem — of a plant
  23. swing — in golf
  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