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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: last · mate · leaves · fork · bank · mouse · bound · bass

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  7. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. False peace will not ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  20. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. fork — in a road
  3. bass — low music
  4. last — final
  5. bank — for money
  6. last — finally
  7. bound — obliged
  8. mate — a partner
  9. mate — to breed
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bank — of a river
  12. bass — the fish
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. last — to go on
  16. bank — for money
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. mate — a friend
  19. fork — to eat with
  20. fork — a garden tool
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. bound — tied together

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