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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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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: pound · nail · mark · mouse · band · club · fine · squash

  1. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  2. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  3. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  4. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  5. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  8. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  14. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  15. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  18. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The ________________ went through the wall.
  24. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — a weight
  2. mark — a trace
  3. pound — for dogs
  4. fine — high quality
  5. fine — all right
  6. band — a ring
  7. pound — to hit hard
  8. club — a group
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. band — a music group
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. mouse — for a computer
  14. club — for golf
  15. squash — to crush
  16. squash — the sport
  17. club — for dancing
  18. fine — a penalty
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. squash — the vegetable

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