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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: wake · ground · squash · sharp · pitcher · pop · bound · ruler

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  5. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  6. It's one o'clock ________________.
  7. There's no middle ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  12. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  19. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. You don't need to ________________ round.
  22. We're almost out of ________________.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He's quite ________________, isn't he?

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. wake — before a funeral
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. squash — the sport
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. sharp — exactly
  7. ground — a position
  8. bound — certain
  9. ground — the earth
  10. bound — obliged
  11. squash — the vegetable
  12. wake — to stop sleeping
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. wake — a trail
  16. bound — tied together
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. ground — crushed
  19. squash — to crush
  20. pop — music
  21. pop — to visit
  22. pop — soda
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. sharp — clever

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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