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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 · leaves · ball · ruler · vault · net · root · hand

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  3. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  16. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  17. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. hand — part of the body
  3. root — of a plant
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. hand — in cards
  6. bound — tied together
  7. net — in sport
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. ball — a dance
  11. ball — a great time
  12. hand — help
  13. root — of a word
  14. net — for catching
  15. ruler — for measuring
  16. leaves — of a tree
  17. leaves — to go away
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. net — after costs
  20. root — the cause
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. vault — a safe
  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