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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: safe · bound · pop · perch · mark · vault · saw · mug

  1. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  6. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  7. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. We're almost out of ________________.
  18. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  19. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — tied together
  2. pop — to visit
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. mark — a trace
  5. vault — an arched ceiling
  6. vault — a safe
  7. vault — in gymnastics
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. saw — the tool
  10. mug — a cup
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mark — to pay attention
  13. saw — the tool
  14. mark — a grade
  15. bound — certain
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pop — soda
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. perch — the fish
  20. bound — obliged
  21. mug — a face
  22. perch — for a bird
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pop — music

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