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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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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: stand · rush · lie · drill · fan · safe · bound · mouse

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  8. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  13. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  22. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  23. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  24. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. fan — a supporter
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. stand — to bear
  7. fan — to cool the air
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bound — certain
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. lie — to recline
  13. rush — hurry
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bound — obliged
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. drill — army training
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. drill — a practice
  22. drill — the tool
  23. stand — for spectators
  24. stand — on your feet

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