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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.

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: nail · bass · pound · bound · chair · cabinet · calf · ball

  1. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The King held a masked ________________.
  19. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  20. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bass — the fish
  4. calf — a young animal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. pound — for dogs
  7. bound — certain
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. pound — to hit hard
  11. bass — low music
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bound — obliged
  14. chair — a professorship
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. bound — tied together
  18. ball — a dance
  19. pound — a weight
  20. chair — to sit on
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. ball — a great time
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. chair — a leader

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