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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: cap · pitcher · leaves · cabinet · bound · season · bore · bowl

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  10. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  11. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  12. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He is an ace ________________.
  19. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. bound — certain
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. season — in sport
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. cap — a hat
  10. bore — to tire
  11. bore — to drill
  12. cabinet — a cupboard
  13. cap — of ice
  14. bowl — to roll
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. bound — obliged
  18. pitcher — in baseball
  19. cap — a lid
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. season — of the year
  24. bowl — a football final

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