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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: bound · spell · bass · bore · stick · calf · nail · board

  1. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. How do you ________________ your surname?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to tire
  2. bass — the fish
  3. calf — a young animal
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. bore — to drill
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. spell — magic
  10. spell — letters
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. bass — low music
  13. board — a committee
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. spell — a short time
  18. bound — tied together
  19. calf — of the leg
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. board — to get on
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. bound — certain
  24. nail — on a finger

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