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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
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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: safe · track · bound · saw · game · staff · arm · rush

  1. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He works in a ________________ mill.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  12. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. She's very handy with a ________________.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  23. That was a fun ________________.
  24. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — hurry
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bound — obliged
  5. saw — the tool
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. track — a song
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. staff — employees
  11. staff — employees
  12. game — a kind of play
  13. bound — certain
  14. bound — tied together
  15. track — to keep track
  16. game — wild animals
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. saw — the tool
  19. staff — a stick
  20. saw — past of 'see'
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. arm — a part of something
  23. game — a match
  24. track — a path

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