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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: mate · bound · pit · ruler · lean · rock · cabinet · wound

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  5. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. What do you think of the new ________________?
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. mate — a friend
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. cabinet — ministers
  5. ruler — a monarch
  6. bound — certain
  7. rock — music
  8. bound — obliged
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. mate — a partner
  14. bound — tied together
  15. pit — a hole
  16. wound — an injury
  17. wound — an injury
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. rock — a stone
  20. lean — to bend
  21. wound — past of 'wind'
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. mate — to breed
  24. lean — thin

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