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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 116 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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  13. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  14. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  15. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  16. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  17. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  23. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  24. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. stick — to attach or keep to
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. tube — the underground
  8. wake — before a funeral
  9. staff — a stick
  10. trunk — of a tree
  11. bound — certain
  12. mark — a grade
  13. trunk — of a car
  14. tube — in a tire
  15. trunk — of an elephant
  16. tube — a container
  17. wake — to stop sleeping
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. wake — a trail
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bound — obliged
  22. mark — a trace
  23. bound — tied together
  24. staff — employees

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