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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: cabinet · leaves · key · bowl · chair · bound · row · bank

  1. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  16. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  17. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  18. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  19. This piece is in a major ________________.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  22. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — a cupboard
  2. bound — obliged
  3. chair — a leader
  4. key — for a lock
  5. bank — of a river
  6. bound — tied together
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. bowl — a football final
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bank — for money
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. bound — certain
  13. row — a line
  14. row — to paddle
  15. leaves — to go away
  16. cabinet — ministers
  17. key — the most important part
  18. bowl — to roll
  19. key — in music
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. row — a quarrel
  22. chair — to sit on
  23. bank — for money
  24. leaves — of a tree

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