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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 116 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: present · bound · branch · field · lean · game · vault · deal

  1. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  5. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  14. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  15. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  16. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  17. That was a fun ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  22. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  23. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  24. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. branch — of a bank
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bound — obliged
  4. field — for sport
  5. vault — in gymnastics
  6. bound — certain
  7. present — the time now
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. field — a subject
  11. deal — to handle
  12. branch — a division
  13. lean — thin
  14. game — a kind of play
  15. lean — to rest against
  16. vault — a safe
  17. game — a match
  18. lean — to bend
  19. deal — an agreement
  20. game — wild animals
  21. present — there
  22. vault — an arched ceiling
  23. present — a gift
  24. field — farmland

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