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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 112 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 from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rock · coach · mark · board · mine · bound

  1. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bound — obliged
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bound — tied together
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. rock — a stone
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. rock — to move gently
  9. board — a committee
  10. mark — a trace
  11. mine — for digging
  12. rock — music
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. bound — certain
  18. mine — an explosive

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