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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: roll · row · squash · bank · drill · toast · bound · branch

  1. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  17. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  18. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  19. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. bank — for money
  3. branch — a division
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. bank — for money
  6. squash — to crush
  7. toast — a drink to someone
  8. bound — certain
  9. branch — of a bank
  10. roll — a cake
  11. toast — bread
  12. row — a line
  13. bound — obliged
  14. bound — tied together
  15. bank — of a river
  16. squash — the sport
  17. squash — the vegetable
  18. branch — of a tree
  19. drill — the tool
  20. row — to paddle
  21. drill — army training
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. roll — a list
  24. roll — on a roll

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