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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: bound · safe · rock · degree · coach · track · suit · nail

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. The ________________ went through the wall.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  19. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  24. We are ________________ to obey laws.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. coach — pulled by horses
  3. suit — to fit
  4. nail — for a hammer
  5. bound — certain
  6. nail — on a finger
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. nail — for a hammer
  9. rock — music
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. degree — from a university
  13. track — to keep track
  14. suit — clothes
  15. track — a song
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. rock — a stone
  18. degree — an amount
  19. track — a path
  20. suit — in cards
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. degree — temperature
  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