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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: bear · jam · wave · rock · board · pop · net · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  4. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  5. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  14. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  19. We're almost out of ________________.
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. You don't need to ________________ round.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. board — a flat piece
  4. rock — a stone
  5. bear — the animal
  6. net — in sport
  7. board — to get on
  8. bound — tied together
  9. board — a committee
  10. pop — music
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. net — for catching
  14. jam — to spread on bread
  15. rock — music
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bear — the animal
  19. pop — soda
  20. net — after costs
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. pop — to visit
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. wave — of the sea

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