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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: band · lean · bound · leaves · mug · bowl · safe · can

  1. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  2. Where did you ________________ them?
  3. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  13. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  16. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  20. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  21. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  22. That was ________________ to happen.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — thin
  2. mug — to rob
  3. band — a rubber band
  4. bound — obliged
  5. band — a ring
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. leaves — to go away
  8. bound — tied together
  9. can — a tin
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bowl — a dish
  13. bowl — to roll
  14. mug — a cup
  15. band — a music group
  16. bowl — a football final
  17. can — to be able to
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. can — a tin
  20. safe — a strongbox
  21. lean — to bend
  22. bound — certain
  23. mug — a face
  24. leaves — of a tree

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