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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: roll · bound · board · rash · fine · bay · nail · pitcher

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. We're on a ________________ here.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  8. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  18. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. roll — on a roll
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. bay — a part of the sea
  8. fine — all right
  9. roll — a list
  10. bound — obliged
  11. fine — high quality
  12. board — to get on
  13. roll — a cake
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. bound — tied together
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. bay — to keep at bay
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. rash — a series
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. bound — certain
  24. rash — hasty

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