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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: chair · ruler · shower · key · mouse · bound · safe · leaves

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  5. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  6. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  7. This piece is in a major ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  12. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  19. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  20. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  21. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  22. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  23. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  24. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. bound — tied together
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. key — for a lock
  5. mouse — the animal
  6. leaves — to go away
  7. key — in music
  8. bound — certain
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. ruler — for measuring
  12. shower — to wash
  13. bound — obliged
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. chair — a leader
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. shower — rain
  19. key — the most important part
  20. chair — a professorship
  21. shower — a meteor shower
  22. leaves — lets stay
  23. ruler — for measuring
  24. chair — to sit on

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