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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: firm · coach · branch · tube · suit · date · mouse · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  5. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  6. I'll be taking the ________________.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. When will it ________________ you to start?
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  14. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. Have you settled on a ________________?
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. date — on the calendar
  3. bound — tied together
  4. branch — a division
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. tube — the underground
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. suit — to fit
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. suit — in cards
  11. bound — obliged
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. tube — a container
  14. firm — a company
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. suit — clothes
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. firm — steady
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. date — on the calendar
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. date — the fruit
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. firm — decided

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