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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.

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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: track · bound · date · pass · bank · board · scale · bowl

  1. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  18. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Have you settled on a ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. scale — for weighing
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bank — for money
  6. date — the fruit
  7. bound — obliged
  8. bank — of a river
  9. track — to keep track
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. scale — size or range
  13. bound — tied together
  14. track — a path
  15. track — a song
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. scale — in music
  18. board — to get on
  19. bound — certain
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. board — a committee
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. bank — for money
  24. date — on the calendar

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