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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 120 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: bound · pitcher · fine · stand · tube · safe · root · cabinet

  1. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  11. He is an ace ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. I'll be taking the ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  17. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. I assure you, everything's ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. tube — in a tire
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bound — certain
  5. root — the cause
  6. stand — to bear
  7. root — of a plant
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — in baseball
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bound — obliged
  14. tube — the underground
  15. fine — high quality
  16. fine — a penalty
  17. tube — a container
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. root — of a word
  22. bound — tied together
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. fine — all right

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