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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. How do you ________________ your surname?
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. spell — letters
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. board — to get on
  6. bound — certain
  7. spell — magic
  8. bank — for money
  9. vault — in gymnastics
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — of a river
  12. vault — an arched ceiling
  13. stand — to bear
  14. vault — a safe
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. march — music
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. board — a committee
  19. march — the month
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. spell — a short time
  22. march — the month
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bound — obliged

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