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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 120 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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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: lean · bound · board · mouse · nail · cabinet · bark · stock

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  18. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  19. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  20. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. What do you think of the new ________________?
  24. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. lean — to rest against
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. stock — goods
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. lean — to bend
  9. bound — tied together
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. board — a committee
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bark — to shout
  14. bound — certain
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. stock — shares
  17. mouse — for a computer
  18. lean — thin
  19. stock — a soup base
  20. nail — on a finger
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. board — to get on
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. bark — 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