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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: stand · racket · bore · bound · toast · drill · bank · jam

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  3. I can't ________________ this cold.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  15. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  21. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  24. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. jam — a tight spot
  3. stand — to bear
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. bound — obliged
  6. bound — tied together
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. drill — the tool
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bore — gave birth
  11. bound — certain
  12. bank — for money
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. bore — to tire
  15. racket — for tennis
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. racket — a loud noise
  18. bore — to drill
  19. bank — for money
  20. drill — a practice
  21. stand — for spectators
  22. toast — bread
  23. drill — army training
  24. racket — for tennis

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