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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 120 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: spell · net · track · ruler · bank · pop · bark · drill

  1. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  2. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  3. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. You don't need to ________________ round.
  8. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  13. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  14. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. We're almost out of ________________.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. What was your ________________ profit last year?

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

Answer key

  1. bark — a dog's sound
  2. spell — magic
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. drill — army training
  5. bank — of a river
  6. track — to keep track
  7. pop — to visit
  8. bark — to shout
  9. track — a path
  10. net — for catching
  11. track — a song
  12. net — in sport
  13. spell — a short time
  14. bark — of a tree
  15. spell — letters
  16. pop — soda
  17. drill — the tool
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. bank — for money
  21. drill — a practice
  22. bank — for money
  23. pop — music
  24. net — after costs

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