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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: mug · temple · safe · leaves · wind · bound · court · rock

  1. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  3. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  4. The ball is in your ________________.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  11. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  16. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  19. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Where did you ________________ them?

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. rock — to move gently
  3. temple — a place of worship
  4. court — for sport
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. wind — moving air
  7. rock — a stone
  8. bound — obliged
  9. mug — a face
  10. mug — a cup
  11. temple — side of the head
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bound — certain
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. court — of law
  16. wind — to turn a key
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. court — of a king
  19. bound — tied together
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. wind — moving air
  22. rock — music
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. mug — to rob

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