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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: key · bound · tube · bank · calf · court · suit · present

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  15. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  18. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. The ball is in your ________________.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. key — in music
  3. bound — tied together
  4. court — of law
  5. tube — the underground
  6. present — there
  7. suit — clothes
  8. key — for a lock
  9. bank — for money
  10. tube — in a tire
  11. suit — in cards
  12. present — a gift
  13. suit — to fit
  14. tube — a container
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. bound — obliged
  17. court — of a king
  18. calf — of the leg
  19. bank — of a river
  20. court — for sport
  21. bound — certain
  22. key — the most important part
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. present — the time now

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