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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: pass · safe · land · hand · lash · can · kick · bound

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  6. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  7. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  11. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. When are we going to ________________?
  17. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. kick — in football
  3. lash — to lash out
  4. can — to be able to
  5. pass — a permit
  6. hand — in cards
  7. hand — part of the body
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — obliged
  10. land — a country
  11. kick — with a leg
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. land — ground
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. land — to come down
  17. hand — help
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. bound — tied together
  20. can — a tin
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. can — a tin
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. pass — to succeed

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