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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: leaves · bound · drill · stock · mouse · plane · cell · mug

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Where did you ________________ them?
  7. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  16. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  17. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. drill — the tool
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. plane — a tool
  5. bound — obliged
  6. mug — to rob
  7. plane — in geometry
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. drill — army training
  10. stock — shares
  11. cell — in biology
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. stock — goods
  14. mug — a cup
  15. cell — a phone
  16. stock — a soup base
  17. drill — a practice
  18. bound — certain
  19. mouse — the animal
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. mouse — for a computer
  22. mug — a face
  23. bound — tied together
  24. leaves — to go away

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