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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: bound · ruler · pop · dip · mark · pass · arm · perch

  1. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. We're almost out of ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You don't need to ________________ round.
  12. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. pass — a permit
  2. bound — tied together
  3. mark — a grade
  4. perch — the fish
  5. mark — a trace
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. pop — soda
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. pop — music
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pop — to visit
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. mark — to pay attention
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. dip — to sink
  19. dip — to dunk
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. pass — to spend time
  22. bound — certain
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. bound — obliged

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