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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: saw · rock · mouse · current · chest · bowl · bound · bank

  1. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  5. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. saw — the tool
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. bowl — a football final
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. current — of water
  8. bound — obliged
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. current — happening now
  11. bound — tied together
  12. current — electric
  13. chest — of your body
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. rock — music
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. rock — a stone
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bank — for money
  20. bound — certain
  21. chest — a box
  22. chest — of your body
  23. bank — for money
  24. saw — past of 'see'

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