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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  12. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  23. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bound — certain
  3. rush — hurry
  4. track — a song
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. chip — in a computer
  7. track — a path
  8. tube — a container
  9. stock — shares
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. stock — goods
  12. track — to keep track
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. chip — for betting
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. rush — to hurry
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bound — tied together
  20. bound — obliged
  21. tube — the underground
  22. hide — to keep secret
  23. chip — to eat
  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