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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 116 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: rash · pass · mark · root · wound · stand · safe · bound

  1. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  10. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. I can't ________________ this cold.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  19. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  20. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — an injury
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mark — to pay attention
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. rash — a series
  6. mark — a trace
  7. stand — on your feet
  8. bound — obliged
  9. pass — to spend time
  10. root — the cause
  11. bound — certain
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. wound — past of 'wind'
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. bound — tied together
  16. stand — to bear
  17. rash — hasty
  18. pass — a permit
  19. wound — an injury
  20. root — of a word
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. root — of a plant
  23. mark — a grade
  24. safe — a strongbox

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