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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: bound · safe · net · board · mate · chair · bulb · cabinet

  1. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  9. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  10. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  13. That was ________________ to happen.
  14. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  15. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bound — tied together
  4. net — after costs
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. board — to get on
  7. board — a committee
  8. cabinet — a cupboard
  9. chair — a leader
  10. chair — a professorship
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. mate — a friend
  13. bound — certain
  14. net — in sport
  15. board — a flat piece
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. net — for catching
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. mate — to breed
  20. bound — obliged
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. bulb — for light
  23. bulb — for light
  24. mate — a partner

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