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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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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: face · bound · safe · snap · craft · lean · jam · fall

  1. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  2. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  7. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  8. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  9. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  23. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. fall — the season
  2. lean — to rest against
  3. lean — to bend
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. craft — a skill
  7. fall — to drop
  8. snap — to click
  9. face — to confront
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. bound — obliged
  12. face — part of the head
  13. bound — certain
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. snap — to speak sharply
  16. bound — tied together
  17. lean — thin
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. face — to point toward
  20. fall — to drop
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. craft — a handicraft
  23. craft — boats
  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