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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 116 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lash · board · bound · spell · net · game · racket · bore

  1. That was a fun ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  17. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. How do you ________________ your surname?
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. game — a match
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. net — in sport
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. net — after costs
  6. spell — magic
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. board — to get on
  9. bound — certain
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bound — obliged
  12. game — wild animals
  13. net — for catching
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. bound — tied together
  16. lash — a whip stroke
  17. bore — gave birth
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. spell — a short time
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. spell — letters
  22. board — a committee
  23. bore — to drill
  24. racket — a loud noise

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