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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 · track · sharp · branch · deal · mug · coach · band

  1. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  6. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. It's one o'clock ________________.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. band — a music group
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. sharp — with an edge
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. branch — of a tree
  6. track — to keep track
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. mug — a cup
  9. mug — a face
  10. band — a rubber band
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bound — obliged
  13. sharp — clever
  14. track — a song
  15. mug — to rob
  16. track — a path
  17. bound — certain
  18. sharp — exactly
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. branch — a division
  21. bound — tied together
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. band — a ring

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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