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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: wound · court · safe · mark · snap · suit · lash · bound

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  3. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  6. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  10. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. The ball is in your ________________.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. When will it ________________ you to start?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. lash — to lash out
  3. suit — in cards
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. wound — past of 'wind'
  6. suit — clothes
  7. mark — a grade
  8. bound — certain
  9. lash — an eyelash
  10. court — of law
  11. mark — a trace
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. bound — tied together
  14. snap — to click
  15. wound — an injury
  16. court — for sport
  17. wound — an injury
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. snap — to speak sharply
  20. bound — obliged
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. court — of a king
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. suit — to fit

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