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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: can · deal · coach · cabinet · fall · bore · bound · board

  1. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  24. What do you think of the new ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. can — a tin
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. bound — obliged
  6. fall — to drop
  7. bound — tied together
  8. deal — to handle
  9. board — to get on
  10. fall — to drop
  11. board — a committee
  12. bore — to tire
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bound — certain
  15. can — to be able to
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. fall — the season
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. can — a tin
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. bore — to drill
  24. cabinet — ministers

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