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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: bark · spell · bound · stock · leaves · ruler · coach · jam

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ market has crashed.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. stock — shares
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bark — a dog's sound
  9. spell — magic
  10. bark — of a tree
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. stock — goods
  16. bound — tied together
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. bound — certain
  19. leaves — of a tree
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. bark — to shout
  22. ruler — for measuring
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. spell — letters

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