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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: band · bass · mark · mug · content · season · ruler · bound

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  9. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  10. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  23. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  24. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. mark — a trace
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bound — certain
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. band — a music group
  9. content — the amount
  10. ruler — a monarch
  11. season — in sport
  12. mark — a grade
  13. mark — to pay attention
  14. mug — a cup
  15. band — a ring
  16. bound — tied together
  17. mug — a face
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. season — of the year
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bass — low music
  22. content — videos and posts
  23. content — happy
  24. bass — the fish

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