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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: bank · lean · pitcher · board · safe · leaves · bound · drill

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  18. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  19. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  20. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. drill — a practice
  3. bank — of a river
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. drill — army training
  6. bound — obliged
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. leaves — lets stay
  9. bank — for money
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. board — to get on
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bound — tied together
  15. board — a committee
  16. bank — for money
  17. pitcher — a jug
  18. drill — the tool
  19. lean — to bend
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. bound — certain
  24. leaves — of a tree

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