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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mark · safe · bark · hide · board · bound · track · snap

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  13. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  16. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  23. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  24. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — obliged
  2. hide — to keep secret
  3. track — to keep track
  4. mark — to pay attention
  5. bound — certain
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. bound — tied together
  8. track — a path
  9. board — to get on
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. bark — a dog's sound
  13. snap — to click
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bark — to shout
  16. board — a flat piece
  17. mark — a trace
  18. track — a song
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. bark — of a tree
  21. mark — a grade
  22. board — a committee
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. snap — to snap out of it

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