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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: arm · lie · safe · bound · lean · tube · chest · mouse

  1. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  12. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  13. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  14. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. My father caught me by the ________________.
  18. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  23. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. bound — certain
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lean — to rest against
  5. bound — obliged
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. tube — a container
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. arm — a part of something
  12. tube — in a tire
  13. lie — to recline
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. bound — tied together
  16. lean — thin
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. chest — a box
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. lean — to bend
  21. tube — the underground
  22. chest — of your body
  23. chest — of your body
  24. safe — a strongbox

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