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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. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  2. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  5. I'll be taking the ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  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. rush — hurry
  2. lean — to bend
  3. bound — certain
  4. tube — in a tire
  5. tube — the underground
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. bound — tied together
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. track — a song
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. lean — to rest against
  14. mug — a face
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. bound — obliged
  17. tube — a container
  18. track — to keep track
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. mug — to rob
  21. track — a path
  22. mug — a cup
  23. lean — thin
  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