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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: root · branch · bank · bound · rock · fan · leaves · bore

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  24. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. branch — a division
  4. rock — music
  5. bank — for money
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bound — certain
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. bank — for money
  12. bound — obliged
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. root — of a plant
  15. bound — tied together
  16. branch — of a tree
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. rock — a stone
  19. root — of a word
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. bore — to tire
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. root — the cause
  24. bore — gave birth

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