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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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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 · prune · stand · nail · land · rush · bay

  1. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  3. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  4. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. That was ________________ to happen.
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. I can't ________________ this cold.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. The ________________ went through the wall.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. When are we going to ________________?
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. stand — for spectators
  3. land — ground
  4. prune — to trim
  5. land — a country
  6. bay — to keep at bay
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bound — obliged
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. bound — certain
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. stand — to bear
  14. bound — tied together
  15. nail — for a hammer
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. prune — to trim
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. land — to come down
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. nail — on a finger

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