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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: safe · hand · bound · ground · bowl · ruler · fan · straw

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  14. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. There's no middle ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  24. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. bowl — to roll
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. ground — crushed
  6. ground — the earth
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. hand — help
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bound — tied together
  13. straw — a straw man
  14. fan — to cool the air
  15. hand — in cards
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. ground — a position
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. straw — to clutch at straws
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — certain
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. fan — a supporter
  24. hand — part of the body

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