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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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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: pass · bound · leaves · band · calf · mouse

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  8. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  9. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. mouse — for a computer
  8. pass — to spend time
  9. calf — of the leg
  10. bound — obliged
  11. pass — a permit
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bound — certain
  14. band — a music group
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. band — a ring
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mouse — the animal

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