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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: rash · ground · bay · bound · lean · object · branch · mug

  1. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Don't do anything ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. My mare is ________________ in color.
  17. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. rash — a series
  3. ground — a position
  4. branch — a division
  5. lean — to rest against
  6. bound — certain
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. mug — a face
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. rash — hasty
  11. mug — to rob
  12. lean — thin
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. bay — to keep at bay
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bay — a horse colour
  17. ground — crushed
  18. ground — the earth
  19. object — a thing
  20. mug — a cup
  21. lean — to bend
  22. bound — obliged
  23. object — to protest
  24. object — an aim

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