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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 120 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: cabinet · bound · saw · object · bear · stock · branch · fine

  1. He works in a ________________ mill.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  4. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  5. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. The ________________ market has crashed.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. What do you think of the new ________________?
  16. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  20. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  21. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. bound — tied together
  3. branch — of a bank
  4. stock — a soup base
  5. object — a thing
  6. branch — a division
  7. saw — the tool
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. bear — the animal
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. stock — shares
  12. bound — obliged
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. cabinet — ministers
  16. stock — goods
  17. bear — the animal
  18. bound — certain
  19. fine — high quality
  20. branch — of a tree
  21. object — an aim
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. object — to protest
  24. fine — all right

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