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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: stock · safe · ruler · kid · calf · lie · mate · bound

  1. The ________________ market has crashed.
  2. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  5. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  6. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  9. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  14. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  19. That was ________________ to happen.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  22. Have you found your soul ________________?
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — shares
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. bound — obliged
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. kid — child
  6. kid — to tease
  7. lie — to recline
  8. ruler — for measuring
  9. calf — a young animal
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  12. mate — to breed
  13. stock — goods
  14. calf — of the leg
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bound — certain
  20. mate — a friend
  21. ruler — a monarch
  22. mate — a partner
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — tied together

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