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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: jam · bound · board · fine · bear · staff · drill · rest

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  5. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  13. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  23. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. drill — the tool
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bear — to put up with
  5. staff — employees
  6. bound — tied together
  7. fine — all right
  8. bear — the animal
  9. staff — a stick
  10. drill — a practice
  11. bound — obliged
  12. rest — a break
  13. board — to get on
  14. board — a committee
  15. rest — what's left
  16. fine — high quality
  17. jam — a tight spot
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. drill — army training
  21. bound — certain
  22. jam — in traffic
  23. rest — what's left
  24. bear — 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