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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: drill · cap · rock · safe · bound · coach · pass · wound

  1. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  5. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  12. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  13. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  14. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  18. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  19. Have you met the new head ________________?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. The polar ice ________________ is melting.

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

Answer key

  1. wound — past of 'wind'
  2. rock — a stone
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wound — an injury
  5. drill — the tool
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. wound — an injury
  8. bound — obliged
  9. pass — a permit
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. pass — to succeed
  12. cap — a hat
  13. rock — music
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. bound — certain
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. cap — a lid
  18. drill — a practice
  19. coach — a trainer
  20. bound — tied together
  21. drill — army training
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. cap — of ice

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