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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. We're almost out of ________________.
  3. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. The ________________ took off on time.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  22. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pop — soda
  3. plane — a tool
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — certain
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. lie — to recline
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. plane — an aircraft
  10. mine — for digging
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. lie — an untruth
  13. pop — to visit
  14. plane — in geometry
  15. bound — tied together
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. trunk — of a tree
  23. pop — music
  24. trunk — of a car

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