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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: bound · current · roll · drill · pitch · arm · wax · cabinet

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  4. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. My father caught me by the ________________.
  13. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  14. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  15. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. We're on a ________________ here.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. drill — a practice
  3. roll — a list
  4. wax — for sculpting
  5. roll — a cake
  6. current — happening now
  7. pitch — a sales talk
  8. current — of water
  9. bound — certain
  10. bound — tied together
  11. wax — to grow
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. drill — army training
  14. pitch — completely
  15. pitch — a sports field
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. wax — in the ear
  18. arm — a part of something
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. current — electric
  22. roll — on a roll
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. drill — the tool

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