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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.

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: tube · mouse · pitcher · ruler · spell · deal · cabinet · bound

  1. How do you ________________ your surname?
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  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. spell — letters
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. spell — magic
  4. deal — a big deal
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. tube — a container
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. deal — to handle
  11. bound — tied together
  12. tube — the underground
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. spell — a short time
  16. bound — obliged
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. bound — certain
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — the animal
  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