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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: ball · bound · bank · pitcher · chair · racket · board · safe

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  3. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  9. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. The King held a masked ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. chair — a professorship
  3. racket — a loud noise
  4. bank — of a river
  5. racket — for tennis
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. racket — for tennis
  9. board — a committee
  10. bank — for money
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. ball — a dance
  13. bound — tied together
  14. chair — a leader
  15. bound — obliged
  16. ball — a great time
  17. bound — certain
  18. chair — to sit on
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bank — for money
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. board — to get on
  24. safe — a strongbox

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