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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: mug · temple · rock · bound · face · bass · lean · safe

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  4. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  5. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  6. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. When was this ________________ built?
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. rock — music
  3. lean — thin
  4. face — to point toward
  5. lean — to bend
  6. rock — a stone
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. face — to confront
  10. face — part of the head
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rock — to move gently
  13. bass — low music
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. bass — the fish
  17. temple — side of the head
  18. mug — a face
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. mug — a cup
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bound — certain
  24. temple — a place of worship

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