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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.

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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: rush · safe · bound · coach · rest · net · drill · face

  1. That must've been a ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  11. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  15. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  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. rush — a thrill
  2. bound — obliged
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. face — to point toward
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. net — for catching
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. rush — hurry
  10. drill — army training
  11. face — to confront
  12. rest — what's left
  13. bound — certain
  14. drill — a practice
  15. rest — what's left
  16. face — part of the head
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. net — after costs
  19. rest — a break
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. bound — tied together
  22. drill — the tool
  23. net — in sport
  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