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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: bound · ground · can · board · arm · rock · rush · ruler

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  9. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  10. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. There's no middle ________________.
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. That must've been a ________________.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. board — a committee
  3. ground — the earth
  4. arm — part of the body
  5. can — to be able to
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. board — to get on
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. rock — a stone
  10. arm — a part of something
  11. bound — certain
  12. can — a tin
  13. ground — a position
  14. rush — hurry
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. ruler — a monarch
  17. bound — tied together
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. rush — to hurry
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. ground — crushed
  22. rush — a thrill
  23. can — a tin
  24. rock — music

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