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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: cell · dip · stand · bank · coach · bound · jam · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Have you met the new head ________________?
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  9. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. He was locked up in a ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bank — of a river
  4. cell — in biology
  5. bound — obliged
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. dip — to sink
  9. jam — in traffic
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. bank — for money
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. bank — for money
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. cell — in a prison
  20. stand — to bear
  21. bound — certain
  22. cell — a phone
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stand — on your feet

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