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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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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  13. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. The ________________ took off on time.
  21. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. bound — tied together
  3. board — to get on
  4. leaves — of a tree
  5. bound — obliged
  6. field — a subject
  7. bound — certain
  8. band — a rubber band
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. band — a ring
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. band — a music group
  13. board — a committee
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. staff — a stick
  17. staff — employees
  18. field — farmland
  19. plane — a tool
  20. plane — an aircraft
  21. field — for sport
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. staff — employees
  24. safe — out of danger

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