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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 · fine · stem · bound · safe · bear · stick · degree

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  3. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  4. A university ________________ is the ticket to a successful career.
  5. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  6. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  7. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  8. To what ________________ are you interested in baseball?
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. In my city, the temperature is one ________________ above zero.
  11. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  24. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. fine — all right
  3. bear — the animal
  4. degree — from a university
  5. bear — the animal
  6. stem — a stem cell
  7. bear — to put up with
  8. degree — an amount
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. degree — temperature
  11. fine — a penalty
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. stem — of a plant
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. fine — high quality
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bound — tied together
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bound — obliged
  22. bound — certain
  23. stem — to come from
  24. stick — a piece of wood

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