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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: saw · scale · track · hide · bound · safe

  1. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  2. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. That was ________________ to happen.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  10. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  14. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  15. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — for weighing
  2. saw — the tool
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. bound — tied together
  7. bound — certain
  8. scale — in music
  9. scale — size or range
  10. track — a song
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. track — a path
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. hide — animal skin
  16. bound — obliged
  17. saw — the tool
  18. track — to keep track

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