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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.

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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 · bore · suit · deal · mark · wake · nail

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The ________________ went through the wall.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  13. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  14. How do you ________________ your surname?
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. When will it ________________ you to start?
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  21. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. nail — for a hammer
  3. spell — a short time
  4. wake — a trail
  5. bore — to drill
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. bore — to tire
  8. bore — gave birth
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. mark — a grade
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. suit — in cards
  13. wake — to stop sleeping
  14. spell — letters
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. mark — a trace
  17. bound — tied together
  18. suit — to fit
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. suit — clothes
  21. spell — magic
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. deal — to handle
  24. bound — certain

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