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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: mark · drill · saw · rock · bank · plane · wave · bound

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. The ________________ took off on time.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  9. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. She's very handy with a ________________.
  16. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  17. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  21. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I don't want to ________________ the boat.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. plane — an aircraft
  3. mark — a grade
  4. rock — music
  5. bound — obliged
  6. mark — a trace
  7. bank — of a river
  8. drill — army training
  9. wave — with your hand
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. wave — of the sea
  12. bound — certain
  13. bank — for money
  14. drill — a practice
  15. saw — the tool
  16. drill — the tool
  17. plane — a tool
  18. saw — the tool
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. wave — a sudden rise
  21. rock — a stone
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bank — for money
  24. rock — to move gently

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