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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: coach · jam · deal · bound · board · cap · calf · land

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  4. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  15. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  16. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  19. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  20. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — obliged
  3. cap — a lid
  4. calf — of the leg
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. land — to come down
  8. calf — a young animal
  9. deal — to handle
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. board — to get on
  14. land — a country
  15. cap — a hat
  16. land — ground
  17. bound — tied together
  18. deal — an agreement
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. cap — of ice
  21. board — a committee
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. jam — to spread on bread
  24. jam — in traffic

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