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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
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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: spell · mine · bound · can · board · press · rock · prune

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  6. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. press — a publisher
  3. can — a tin
  4. bound — obliged
  5. spell — a short time
  6. press — newspapers
  7. board — to get on
  8. press — to push
  9. spell — magic
  10. prune — the fruit
  11. bound — certain
  12. board — a committee
  13. can — a tin
  14. rock — music
  15. rock — a stone
  16. mine — for digging
  17. prune — to trim
  18. can — to be able to
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. mine — an explosive
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. spell — letters
  24. board — a flat piece

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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