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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: bound · branch · chip · drill · bay · scale · pound · nail

  1. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. My mare is ________________ in color.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  6. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  10. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  11. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  12. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  19. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.

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

Answer key

  1. pound — for dogs
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. bay — a horse colour
  4. drill — army training
  5. chip — to eat
  6. pound — to hit hard
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. drill — a practice
  9. nail — for a hammer
  10. bay — to keep at bay
  11. pound — a weight
  12. nail — on a finger
  13. bound — obliged
  14. branch — a division
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. bound — tied together
  17. bound — certain
  18. chip — in a computer
  19. bay — a part of the sea
  20. scale — in music
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. drill — the tool
  23. scale — size or range
  24. chip — for betting

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