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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: fine · last · mouse · bound · rest · bear · cabinet · coach

  1. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  2. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  6. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. What do you think of the new ________________?
  23. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. last — finally
  3. fine — all right
  4. last — final
  5. fine — high quality
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. bear — the animal
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. fine — a penalty
  10. last — to go on
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. rest — what's left
  13. bound — tied together
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. bound — obliged
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. rest — what's left
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. rest — a break
  24. bound — certain

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