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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: saw · shower · track · suit · cabinet · bound · present · hide

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. When will it ________________ you to start?
  15. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  19. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  20. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  21. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. saw — the tool
  3. track — a song
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. saw — the tool
  6. shower — a meteor shower
  7. bound — tied together
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. track — to keep track
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. suit — clothes
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. suit — in cards
  14. suit — to fit
  15. shower — to wash
  16. present — the time now
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. present — there
  19. shower — rain
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. track — a path
  23. bound — certain
  24. present — a gift

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