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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: jam · bank · lie · bat · mouse · shower · ruler · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  9. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  20. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. shower — to wash
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. bank — for money
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. lie — an untruth
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. shower — rain
  12. bank — of a river
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. bat — in an idiom
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. bank — for money
  17. lie — an untruth
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. bat — the animal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bound — obliged
  22. lie — to recline
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. bound — tied together

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