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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: stock · bound · ball · ruler · rush · calf · bat · track

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The ________________ market has crashed.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  23. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  24. He had ________________ pain while walking.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. ball — a great time
  3. track — a song
  4. track — a path
  5. rush — hurry
  6. ball — a dance
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. stock — shares
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. bound — certain
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. bound — tied together
  15. track — to keep track
  16. bat — the animal
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. stock — goods
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. bat — in an idiom
  23. ruler — a monarch
  24. calf — of the leg

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