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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: safe · rush · spring · calf · temple · branch · sharp · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  6. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. It's one o'clock ________________.
  21. When was this ________________ built?
  22. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. bound — obliged
  3. bound — tied together
  4. sharp — clever
  5. spring — of water
  6. branch — a division
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. spring — a coil
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. calf — of the leg
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. rush — hurry
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. sharp — exactly
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. rush — to hurry
  23. spring — the season
  24. branch — of a tree

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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