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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: key · fall · can · clip · bound · ruler · stand · track

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. Hold the papers together with a ________________.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. How can I extract the audio from a video ________________?
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. It seems a cruel thing to ________________ a bird's wings.
  22. This piece is in a major ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. fall — the season
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. clip — for paper
  7. fall — to drop
  8. can — a tin
  9. bound — tied together
  10. track — a song
  11. can — to be able to
  12. clip — a video
  13. track — to keep track
  14. fall — to drop
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bound — certain
  17. track — a path
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. can — a tin
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. clip — to cut
  22. key — in music
  23. key — the most important part
  24. key — for a lock

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