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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: game · land · stem · bound · foot · safe · plane · swing

  1. The ________________ took off on time.
  2. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  3. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  6. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  9. David sat on the ________________.
  10. That was a fun ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. When are we going to ________________?
  22. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — an aircraft
  2. stem — a stem cell
  3. game — wild animals
  4. bound — obliged
  5. plane — in geometry
  6. swing — in golf
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. swing — music
  9. swing — to play on
  10. game — a match
  11. bound — tied together
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. bound — certain
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. plane — a tool
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. stem — to come from
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. foot — a measure
  21. land — to come down
  22. land — a country
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. land — ground

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