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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 120 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: rock · present · pop · bound · firm · safe · branch · wound

  1. We're almost out of ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  4. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. You don't need to ________________ round.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  20. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  21. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  22. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  23. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — soda
  2. bound — obliged
  3. branch — a division
  4. branch — of a tree
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. present — a gift
  8. bound — certain
  9. present — there
  10. rock — music
  11. rock — a stone
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. bound — tied together
  14. present — the time now
  15. pop — to visit
  16. firm — a company
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. branch — of a bank
  20. firm — decided
  21. wound — an injury
  22. wound — an injury
  23. pop — music
  24. firm — steady

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