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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 · ruler · mate · hand · racket · key · safe · rest

  1. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  16. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  17. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  18. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — a monarch
  2. bound — obliged
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. key — the most important part
  7. key — in music
  8. bound — certain
  9. mate — to breed
  10. hand — in cards
  11. rest — what's left
  12. hand — help
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bound — tied together
  15. racket — a loud noise
  16. mate — a friend
  17. rest — what's left
  18. ruler — for measuring
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. rest — a break
  23. key — for a lock
  24. mate — a partner

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