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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
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: foot · present · bound · fan · can · safe · game · last

  1. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. That was ________________ to happen.
  15. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  16. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  22. False peace will not ________________.
  23. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  24. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!

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

Answer key

  1. present — the time now
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. game — a kind of play
  5. can — to be able to
  6. can — a tin
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. foot — the bottom
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. present — there
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. bound — obliged
  13. game — a match
  14. bound — certain
  15. last — finally
  16. fan — to cool the air
  17. foot — a measure
  18. present — a gift
  19. can — a tin
  20. bound — tied together
  21. foot — part of the body
  22. last — to go on
  23. game — wild animals
  24. last — final

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