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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 120 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: fall · safe · pass · swing · board · bound · fan · pit

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  3. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  9. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  14. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  15. David sat on the ________________.
  16. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  19. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  20. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  21. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. fall — to drop
  3. pass — to spend time
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. board — a committee
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. board — a flat piece
  9. bound — obliged
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. fall — the season
  12. bound — tied together
  13. pit — a hole
  14. pit — a fruit stone
  15. swing — to play on
  16. swing — in golf
  17. bound — certain
  18. swing — music
  19. board — to get on
  20. pass — a permit
  21. fall — to drop
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. pit — in a race

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