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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: leaves · lean · bound · net · fine · cabinet · spell · rock

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. What do you think of the new ________________?
  7. How do you ________________ your surname?
  8. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  9. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  10. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  11. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. rock — music
  3. bound — certain
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. bound — obliged
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. spell — letters
  8. spell — a short time
  9. spell — magic
  10. leaves — lets stay
  11. cabinet — a cupboard
  12. fine — high quality
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. net — for catching
  15. bound — tied together
  16. lean — to bend
  17. net — after costs
  18. rock — a stone
  19. fine — all right
  20. lean — to rest against
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. net — in sport
  23. cabinet — ministers
  24. lean — thin

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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