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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: tube · saw · face · trunk · mark · field · safe · bound

  1. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. He works in a ________________ mill.
  7. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  10. I'll be taking the ________________.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  15. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  16. That was ________________ to happen.
  17. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  24. She got the top ________________ in the exam.

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

Answer key

  1. field — a subject
  2. bound — tied together
  3. tube — in a tire
  4. bound — obliged
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. saw — the tool
  7. saw — past of 'see'
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. field — for sport
  10. tube — the underground
  11. saw — the tool
  12. face — part of the head
  13. face — to point toward
  14. trunk — of a tree
  15. mark — a trace
  16. bound — certain
  17. trunk — of a car
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. tube — a container
  22. face — to confront
  23. field — farmland
  24. mark — a grade

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