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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: rest · file · wave · bound · mine · board · bank · ruler

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  3. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  6. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  7. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  8. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  9. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. file — a line of people
  3. ruler — a monarch
  4. bound — obliged
  5. file — a document
  6. rest — what's left
  7. mine — for digging
  8. wave — a sudden rise
  9. rest — what's left
  10. bank — for money
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. board — to get on
  13. wave — with your hand
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. board — a committee
  16. bound — certain
  17. file — a tool
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. ruler — for measuring
  20. rest — a break
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. bound — tied together
  23. board — a flat piece
  24. bank — for money

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