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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: suit · bay · rest · drill · stand · ball · bound · net

  1. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  2. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  6. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. My mare is ________________ in color.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  12. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  17. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  18. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  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. rest — what's left
  2. bay — a part of the sea
  3. bound — obliged
  4. stand — to bear
  5. ball — a great time
  6. stand — on your feet
  7. bound — certain
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bay — a horse colour
  10. suit — to fit
  11. rest — a break
  12. drill — army training
  13. net — for catching
  14. ball — a dance
  15. net — in sport
  16. drill — a practice
  17. ball — a round shape
  18. suit — clothes
  19. suit — in cards
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. rest — what's left
  22. stand — for spectators
  23. net — after costs
  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