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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 116 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
468
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: mine · season · mouse · cabinet · vault · bank · board · coach

  1. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  22. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. bank — for money
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. bank — of a river
  5. bank — for money
  6. vault — in gymnastics
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. season — of the year
  9. coach — a trainer
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. mouse — the animal
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. mouse — the animal
  18. season — in sport
  19. vault — a safe
  20. board — a committee
  21. coach — pulled by horses
  22. mine — for digging
  23. board — to get on
  24. vault — an arched ceiling

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