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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.

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: craft · present · racket · band · bore · bound · chip · ball

  1. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  2. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  10. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  11. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  12. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  13. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  16. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  23. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  24. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.

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

Answer key

  1. racket — for tennis
  2. craft — a skill
  3. bound — certain
  4. bound — obliged
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. ball — a round shape
  7. bound — tied together
  8. band — a ring
  9. craft — a handicraft
  10. racket — for tennis
  11. present — a gift
  12. present — the time now
  13. craft — boats
  14. ball — a dance
  15. band — a rubber band
  16. bore — to drill
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. chip — to eat
  19. ball — a great time
  20. chip — for betting
  21. band — a music group
  22. racket — a loud noise
  23. bore — to tire
  24. present — there

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