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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.

Words on the sheet
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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 · jam · fan · cabinet · bank · bound · straw · leaves

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  5. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bank — for money
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. cabinet — a cupboard
  5. bay — a part of the sea
  6. bound — certain
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. leaves — lets stay
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — of a river
  22. leaves — of a tree
  23. bound — tied together
  24. bound — obliged

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