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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: fine · vault · mark · bound · rest · ground · coach · safe

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  10. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  11. There's no middle ________________.
  12. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  15. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. fine — high quality
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bound — obliged
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. mark — to pay attention
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bound — certain
  9. vault — an arched ceiling
  10. vault — a safe
  11. ground — a position
  12. coach — pulled by horses
  13. fine — all right
  14. ground — the earth
  15. vault — in gymnastics
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. rest — a break
  19. rest — what's left
  20. mark — a trace
  21. ground — crushed
  22. bound — tied together
  23. mark — a grade
  24. safe — out of danger

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