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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: stick · safe · perch · bound · face · season · date · trunk

  1. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  2. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  3. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  8. Have you settled on a ________________?
  9. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  10. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. season — of the year
  2. trunk — of an elephant
  3. date — the fruit
  4. bound — tied together
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bound — obliged
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. date — on the calendar
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. perch — the fish
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. season — in sport
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. face — to point toward
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. bound — certain
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. face — part of the head
  24. face — to confront

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