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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: cap · bound · file · fine · bank · leaves · court · wave

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  3. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  4. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  9. The ball is in your ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  13. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  14. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  15. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  22. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. file — a document
  3. court — of a king
  4. wave — a sudden rise
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. bound — certain
  7. bank — for money
  8. fine — high quality
  9. court — for sport
  10. bank — of a river
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. cap — of ice
  13. fine — a penalty
  14. cap — a lid
  15. fine — all right
  16. bound — tied together
  17. file — a tool
  18. bound — obliged
  19. court — of law
  20. bank — for money
  21. wave — of the sea
  22. cap — a hat
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. file — a line of people

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