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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 116 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: ball · bound · mark · root · cabinet · mate · leaves · safe

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  3. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  4. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  5. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  8. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  9. What do you think of the new ________________?
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Have you found your soul ________________?
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. mate — a friend
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. root — the cause
  5. leaves — of a tree
  6. ball — a great time
  7. mark — a grade
  8. root — of a plant
  9. cabinet — ministers
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. leaves — to go away
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. mate — a partner
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. mark — a trace
  18. bound — obliged
  19. mate — to breed
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. root — of a word
  22. ball — a dance
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. bound — tied together

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