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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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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: safe · bound · trunk · lean · foot · row · stick · toast

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  8. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  22. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  23. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. bound — obliged
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. foot — the bottom
  8. foot — part of the body
  9. row — a line
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. row — to paddle
  12. trunk — of a car
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. lean — to bend
  16. foot — a measure
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. stick — to attach or keep to
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. bound — certain
  21. stick — a piece of wood
  22. toast — a drink to someone
  23. lean — thin
  24. toast — bread

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