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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: mouse · suit · deal · bound · vault · band · bank · scale

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  10. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  11. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  12. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  17. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  21. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. When will it ________________ you to start?
  24. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. band — a music group
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. suit — clothes
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. bound — tied together
  7. mouse — the animal
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. scale — in music
  10. deal — to handle
  11. band — a rubber band
  12. vault — in gymnastics
  13. bank — of a river
  14. vault — a safe
  15. bank — for money
  16. band — a ring
  17. deal — an agreement
  18. bound — obliged
  19. bank — for money
  20. scale — size or range
  21. vault — an arched ceiling
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. suit — to fit
  24. suit — in cards

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