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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: can · safe · jam · lash · lean · toast · capital · bound

  1. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  2. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  3. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  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. bound — obliged
  2. capital — a city
  3. lean — to bend
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. can — a tin
  6. can — a tin
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. toast — bread
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. bound — certain
  11. lash — a whip stroke
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. can — to be able to
  15. capital — money
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bound — tied together
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. lash — an eyelash
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. lean — thin
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. capital — a big letter
  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