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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 120 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: file · mark · bank · bound · cabinet · trunk · fork · mouse

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  6. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. What do you think of the new ________________?
  14. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  15. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  16. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  19. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  24. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. mouse — for a computer
  3. bound — certain
  4. bound — obliged
  5. file — a tool
  6. fork — in a road
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bank — of a river
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bank — for money
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. file — a document
  16. cabinet — a cupboard
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. mark — a trace
  19. file — a line of people
  20. mark — a grade
  21. mark — to pay attention
  22. bound — tied together
  23. trunk — of an elephant
  24. fork — a garden tool

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