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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  5. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  6. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  7. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  10. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  13. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  14. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. 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. straw — dry grass
  2. bound — certain
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. arm — a part of something
  5. straw — to clutch at straws
  6. straw — a straw man
  7. prune — to trim
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. racket — for tennis
  10. racket — a loud noise
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. racket — for tennis
  13. prune — the fruit
  14. bound — obliged
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. prune — to trim
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. 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