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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: rule · plane · safe · stand · branch · bound · staff · pitcher

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  7. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  13. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  14. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  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. bound — obliged
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. staff — employees
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. rule — to rule out
  7. branch — of a bank
  8. plane — a tool
  9. branch — of a tree
  10. staff — employees
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. rule — government
  13. rule — a law
  14. branch — a division
  15. bound — tied together
  16. stand — for spectators
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. bound — certain
  19. plane — in geometry
  20. stand — to bear
  21. staff — a stick
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. pitcher — a jug
  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