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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: wind · bound · board · mug · bear · toast · pitcher · suit

  1. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. Where did you ________________ them?
  8. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  9. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. board — a committee
  3. bound — certain
  4. mug — a cup
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. wind — moving air
  7. mug — to rob
  8. suit — in cards
  9. suit — clothes
  10. bear — the animal
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. wind — to turn a key
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. suit — to fit
  15. mug — a face
  16. bound — tied together
  17. board — to get on
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. bound — obliged
  21. toast — bread
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. wind — moving air
  24. bear — to put up with

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