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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: bear · bound · wave · fine · coach · roll · bore · board

  1. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  3. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  4. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  7. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. We're on a ________________ here.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  24. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. fine — a penalty
  3. bore — to drill
  4. bear — the animal
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. bore — gave birth
  7. roll — a list
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. roll — a cake
  11. roll — on a roll
  12. board — a committee
  13. bound — tied together
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bore — to tire
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. fine — all right
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. board — to get on
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. bear — the animal

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