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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 120 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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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 · safe · ruler · patient · bay · saw · ground · pit

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  7. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  8. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. There's no middle ________________.
  24. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. ruler — for measuring
  2. bound — certain
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. pit — a hole
  6. patient — calm and waiting
  7. ruler — a monarch
  8. pit — in a race
  9. bound — obliged
  10. ruler — for measuring
  11. saw — the tool
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. patient — a sick person
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. bay — a part of the sea
  16. bound — tied together
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. ground — the earth
  20. saw — the tool
  21. ground — crushed
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. ground — a position
  24. bay — to keep at bay

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