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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
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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: mate · saw · band · bay · bound · stand · safe · scale

  1. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  2. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  3. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  4. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  7. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. She's very handy with a ________________.
  10. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  11. My mare is ________________ in color.
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  18. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. mate — a friend
  2. mate — to breed
  3. bay — to keep at bay
  4. saw — past of 'see'
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. scale — in music
  7. scale — size or range
  8. bound — certain
  9. saw — the tool
  10. scale — for weighing
  11. bay — a horse colour
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. stand — to bear
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. saw — the tool
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. stand — for spectators
  18. band — a music group
  19. bound — obliged
  20. band — a rubber band
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. bound — tied together
  23. band — a ring
  24. mate — a partner

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