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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: lie · ball · coach · deal · prune · bound · ruler · rock

  1. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a round shape
  2. rock — music
  3. bound — obliged
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. ruler — for measuring
  6. rock — a stone
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. deal — to handle
  10. prune — to trim
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. prune — to trim
  13. bound — certain
  14. lie — to recline
  15. bound — tied together
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. ball — a great time
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. ball — a dance
  24. deal — an agreement

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