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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: bound · rock · swing · saw · suit · toast · safe · pass

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  12. When will it ________________ you to start?
  13. David sat on the ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. She's very handy with a ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. pass — to succeed
  3. bound — certain
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. rock — a stone
  6. bound — tied together
  7. toast — bread
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. saw — the tool
  11. suit — clothes
  12. suit — to fit
  13. swing — to play on
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. swing — music
  16. rock — music
  17. toast — a drink to someone
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. saw — the tool
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. pass — a permit
  22. suit — in cards
  23. swing — in golf
  24. bound — obliged

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