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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: straw · safe · board · bound · pit · last · content · ruler

  1. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  2. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  7. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  13. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  14. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  21. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  22. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. board — a flat piece
  2. ruler — for measuring
  3. pit — in a race
  4. straw — a straw man
  5. board — to get on
  6. last — final
  7. straw — dry grass
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bound — obliged
  10. content — happy
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. content — videos and posts
  13. ruler — a monarch
  14. board — a committee
  15. pit — a hole
  16. pit — a fruit stone
  17. bound — tied together
  18. last — to go on
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. last — finally
  21. ruler — for measuring
  22. content — the amount
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — certain

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