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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  3. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  11. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  19. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  24. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. present — the time now
  3. tube — a container
  4. bound — obliged
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bound — certain
  8. present — a gift
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. shower — to wash
  11. jam — in traffic
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. shower — rain
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. foot — a measure
  18. shower — a meteor shower
  19. present — there
  20. tube — the underground
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. jam — a tight spot
  24. wake — to stop sleeping

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