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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: arm · bound · lie · bank · can · spell · bay · mug

  1. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  12. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. Where did you ________________ them?
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. spell — a short time
  2. can — a tin
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. can — to be able to
  7. bank — for money
  8. spell — letters
  9. bay — to keep at bay
  10. mug — a cup
  11. lie — to recline
  12. spell — magic
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. mug — to rob
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. mug — a face
  17. bank — for money
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — certain
  21. can — a tin
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. arm — a part of something
  24. bank — of a river

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