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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: chip · rush · wake · stick · bound · nail · bank · mark

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. The ________________ went through the wall.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. bound — certain
  3. stick — to attach or keep to
  4. bank — for money
  5. wake — a trail
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. bank — of a river
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. bound — tied together
  10. mark — a grade
  11. rush — hurry
  12. chip — for betting
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. mark — a trace
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. chip — to eat
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. nail — for a hammer
  23. bank — for money
  24. nail — on a finger

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