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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: bass · wax · board · pit · drill · hide · bound · mouse

  1. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  18. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  24. ________________ games are popular in Germany.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — in a race
  2. bound — obliged
  3. drill — army training
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. drill — the tool
  9. bass — the instrument
  10. bound — tied together
  11. board — a committee
  12. drill — a practice
  13. board — to get on
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. wax — to grow
  16. bass — the fish
  17. pit — a hole
  18. bass — low music
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. bound — certain
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. wax — for sculpting
  24. board — a flat piece

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