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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: row · staff · jam · rock · pitcher · bass · bowl · bound

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. row — to paddle
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. bound — tied together
  5. bound — certain
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. row — a line
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bound — obliged
  11. rock — music
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bass — the fish
  16. rock — a stone
  17. staff — a stick
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bass — low music
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bass — the instrument
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. staff — employees

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