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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 120 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: leaves · trunk · cue · wake · bound · safe · cabinet · saw

  1. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  2. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  11. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  12. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. What do you think of the new ________________?
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. wake — a trail
  2. cue — a hint
  3. bound — certain
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. saw — the tool
  10. cabinet — a cupboard
  11. cue — for pool
  12. trunk — of a tree
  13. saw — the tool
  14. cabinet — ministers
  15. cue — a signal
  16. bound — tied together
  17. wake — before a funeral
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. leaves — to go away
  21. bound — obliged
  22. wake — to stop sleeping
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. safe — out of danger

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