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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 116 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.

Make a worksheet

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: row · mark · trunk · perch · safe · straw · bound · drill

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  7. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  10. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  11. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  22. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  23. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. row — a line
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. drill — army training
  6. trunk — of an elephant
  7. perch — for a bird
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. trunk — of a tree
  10. drill — the tool
  11. row — to paddle
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. trunk — of a car
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bound — tied together
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. bound — obliged
  19. drill — a practice
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. mark — a grade
  22. straw — a straw man
  23. perch — the fish
  24. safe — out of danger

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