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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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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: face · safe · plane · snap · content · deal · bound · stem

  1. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  6. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  7. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  8. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  24. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.

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

Answer key

  1. plane — a tool
  2. bound — certain
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. snap — to snap out of it
  6. content — the amount
  7. snap — to speak sharply
  8. deal — an agreement
  9. stem — to come from
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. face — part of the head
  14. bound — tied together
  15. content — happy
  16. snap — to click
  17. deal — to handle
  18. face — to confront
  19. bound — obliged
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. stem — of a plant
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. stem — a stem cell
  24. face — to point toward

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