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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 120 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: leaves · foot · mouse · bore · land · key · bound · branch

  1. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  2. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  3. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  7. When are we going to ________________?
  8. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  9. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  19. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. This piece is in a major ________________.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — gave birth
  2. leaves — to go away
  3. foot — the bottom
  4. bound — certain
  5. land — ground
  6. bore — to tire
  7. land — to come down
  8. key — for a lock
  9. land — a country
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. leaves — lets stay
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. bore — to drill
  15. bound — tied together
  16. branch — of a bank
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. branch — a division
  19. branch — of a tree
  20. foot — a measure
  21. key — in music
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. key — the most important part
  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