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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: safe · wake · mouse · jam · bound · spring · plane · arm

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  4. That was ________________ to happen.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  10. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  15. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  16. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  22. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  23. The ________________ took off on time.
  24. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. bound — tied together
  3. jam — a tight spot
  4. bound — certain
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wake — before a funeral
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. mouse — for a computer
  10. spring — of water
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. bound — obliged
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. plane — a tool
  15. spring — the season
  16. plane — in geometry
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. wake — a trail
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. safe — a strongbox
  22. mouse — the animal
  23. plane — an aircraft
  24. spring — a coil

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