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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: stand · ball · arm · bound · rock · can · wound · mug

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  11. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. mug — a face
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bound — certain
  8. wound — an injury
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. wound — past of 'wind'
  11. wound — an injury
  12. ball — a dance
  13. can — to be able to
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. mug — a cup
  16. bound — obliged
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. mug — to rob
  19. rock — music
  20. bound — tied together
  21. can — a tin
  22. can — a tin
  23. rock — to move gently
  24. ball — a great time

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