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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: ground · bound · leaves · march · bulb · safe · chip · wax

  1. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  3. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  4. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  7. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. That was ________________ to happen.
  11. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  12. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. There's no middle ________________.
  23. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. chip — in a computer
  3. wax — for sculpting
  4. chip — to eat
  5. bound — tied together
  6. march — the month
  7. wax — in the ear
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. march — the month
  10. bound — certain
  11. wax — to grow
  12. bound — obliged
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. ground — the earth
  17. bulb — for light
  18. march — music
  19. ground — crushed
  20. bulb — for light
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. ground — a position
  23. chip — for betting
  24. leaves — of a tree

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