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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: tube · can · stand · safe · bound · trunk · mark · hide

  1. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. That was ________________ to happen.
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  6. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  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. tube — in a tire
  2. can — a tin
  3. bound — certain
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. trunk — of an elephant
  6. tube — a container
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. can — a tin
  9. bound — obliged
  10. mark — a trace
  11. tube — the underground
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bound — tied together
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. mark — a grade
  17. trunk — of a tree
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. can — to be able to
  20. stand — to bear
  21. hide — animal skin
  22. safe — a strongbox
  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