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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: lean · pop · track · pitcher · mark · safe · lie · bound

  1. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. He is an ace ________________.
  4. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  5. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  10. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  11. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. We're almost out of ________________.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. He is as ________________ as a wolf.

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

Answer key

  1. mark — to pay attention
  2. bound — obliged
  3. pitcher — in baseball
  4. track — to keep track
  5. track — a path
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. bound — tied together
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. lean — to bend
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. pop — music
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pop — to visit
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mark — a grade
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bound — certain
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. pop — soda
  21. mark — a trace
  22. track — a song
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. lean — thin

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