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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: bound · rest · safe · saw · roll · cue · wound · foot

  1. We're on a ________________ here.
  2. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  9. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  10. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  16. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  17. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  18. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  19. He works in a ________________ mill.
  20. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. We ________________ up on opposing sides.

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

Answer key

  1. roll — on a roll
  2. roll — a cake
  3. rest — what's left
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. foot — the bottom
  6. bound — obliged
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. rest — what's left
  9. cue — for pool
  10. wound — an injury
  11. roll — a list
  12. saw — the tool
  13. cue — a hint
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. cue — a signal
  16. foot — a measure
  17. wound — an injury
  18. saw — past of 'see'
  19. saw — the tool
  20. rest — a break
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bound — tied together
  23. bound — certain
  24. wound — past of 'wind'

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