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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: mug · rush · rock · object · wound · cabinet · pound · ball

  1. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  4. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  5. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. Where did you ________________ them?
  9. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — a stone
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. object — to protest
  4. wound — past of 'wind'
  5. wound — an injury
  6. rock — music
  7. wound — an injury
  8. mug — to rob
  9. ball — a round shape
  10. mug — a cup
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. ball — a dance
  13. object — a thing
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. rock — to move gently
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rush — hurry
  19. ball — a great time
  20. pound — for dogs
  21. object — an aim
  22. mug — a face
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. pound — a weight

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