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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: bound · vault · arm · season · net · bay · pound · bank

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  12. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  22. My mare is ________________ in color.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. vault — in gymnastics
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. net — in sport
  6. bound — obliged
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. bay — to keep at bay
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bank — of a river
  11. vault — an arched ceiling
  12. net — for catching
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. bound — certain
  15. bound — tied together
  16. bank — for money
  17. pound — to hit hard
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. net — after costs
  20. bank — for money
  21. vault — a safe
  22. bay — a horse colour
  23. pound — a weight
  24. season — in sport

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