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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: foot · bound · lash · lie · safe · club · fine · trunk

  1. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  2. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  14. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  21. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  24. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — all right
  2. foot — the bottom
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. club — for golf
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. lie — to recline
  9. bound — obliged
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. club — for dancing
  14. club — a group
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. fine — high quality
  17. bound — tied together
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. foot — a measure
  21. trunk — of a tree
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. trunk — of a car
  24. fine — a penalty

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