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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  6. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  7. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  8. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  9. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. drill — army training
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. bound — obliged
  5. stem — a stem cell
  6. fan — to cool the air
  7. racket — a loud noise
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. trunk — of an elephant
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. bound — certain
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. drill — the tool
  16. stem — of a plant
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. drill — a practice
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. stem — to come from
  24. bound — tied together

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