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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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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: lean · pitcher · bound · saw · board · staff · coach · bore

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  8. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. She's very handy with a ________________.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. lean — to bend
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. saw — the tool
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. staff — a stick
  7. coach — pulled by horses
  8. bore — to tire
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. board — to get on
  13. bore — gave birth
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bore — to drill
  16. bound — certain
  17. bound — tied together
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. bound — obliged
  20. staff — employees
  21. staff — employees
  22. board — a committee
  23. saw — the tool
  24. lean — thin

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