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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: chip · wound · perch · bound · stick · toast · mine · safe

  1. That was ________________ to happen.
  2. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  5. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  11. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  16. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  19. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  20. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  24. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bound — certain
  2. wound — an injury
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. chip — for betting
  5. mine — belonging to me
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. stick — a piece of wood
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. perch — the fish
  16. toast — a drink to someone
  17. bound — tied together
  18. chip — to eat
  19. bound — obliged
  20. perch — for a bird
  21. mine — for digging
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. wound — an injury
  24. toast — bread

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