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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: bay · bank · sharp · mouse · bound · court · plane · mine

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. My mare is ________________ in color.
  7. The ball is in your ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  16. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The ________________ took off on time.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. It's one o'clock ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bound — certain
  3. bank — of a river
  4. court — of law
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. bay — a horse colour
  7. court — for sport
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mouse — the animal
  11. bound — tied together
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. court — of a king
  16. sharp — with an edge
  17. mine — for digging
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. plane — an aircraft
  23. sharp — clever
  24. sharp — exactly

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