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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.

Make a worksheet

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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. net — after costs
  3. can — a tin
  4. can — to be able to
  5. net — in sport
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. bound — certain
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. bound — obliged
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. perch — for a bird
  13. bound — tied together
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. can — a tin
  16. perch — the fish
  17. net — for catching
  18. arm — a part of something

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