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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: pit · lean · pass · staff · row · bound · net · safe

  1. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  4. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  5. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  6. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  7. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  10. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  11. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  12. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  15. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  18. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  19. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  20. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. net — for catching
  2. bound — tied together
  3. net — after costs
  4. pit — in a race
  5. bound — obliged
  6. pit — a fruit stone
  7. lean — to rest against
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. row — a line
  10. pass — to succeed
  11. pass — a permit
  12. staff — employees
  13. bound — certain
  14. lean — thin
  15. pit — a hole
  16. row — to paddle
  17. pass — to spend time
  18. staff — a stick
  19. net — in sport
  20. row — a quarrel
  21. lean — to bend
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. staff — employees
  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