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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. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  3. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  4. The ________________ market has crashed.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  13. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  14. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  15. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  16. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. leaves — lets stay
  3. rule — a law
  4. stock — shares
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. wake — to stop sleeping
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. wake — a trail
  13. staff — a stick
  14. rule — government
  15. calf — of the leg
  16. staff — employees
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. staff — employees
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. bound — tied together
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bound — certain
  24. stock — goods

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