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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 120 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 · can · trunk · pitcher · spell · net · bowl · lie

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. spell — a short time
  3. net — after costs
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. bound — certain
  6. spell — magic
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. net — for catching
  9. can — a tin
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. lie — to recline
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. bound — tied together
  15. spell — letters
  16. trunk — of a tree
  17. can — a tin
  18. net — in sport
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. can — to be able to
  21. bowl — a football final
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. bound — obliged

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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