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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: jam · leaves · safe · foot · press · drill · present · bound

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  11. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  12. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  13. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. Did you ________________ the button?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  19. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  22. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Tom got himself in a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. foot — a measure
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. drill — army training
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. jam — to spread on bread
  8. press — newspapers
  9. bound — tied together
  10. leaves — of a tree
  11. press — a publisher
  12. drill — a practice
  13. leaves — to go away
  14. present — the time now
  15. press — to push
  16. bound — obliged
  17. drill — the tool
  18. leaves — lets stay
  19. foot — part of the body
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. present — a gift
  22. foot — the bottom
  23. present — there
  24. jam — a tight spot

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