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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 · foot · bear · coach · cabinet · safe · mug · can

  1. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  4. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  5. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  6. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  7. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. Have you met the new head ________________?
  17. That was ________________ to happen.
  18. What do you think of the new ________________?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. foot — a measure
  4. foot — part of the body
  5. bound — tied together
  6. foot — the bottom
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bear — to put up with
  10. mug — to rob
  11. can — a tin
  12. can — a tin
  13. bound — obliged
  14. mug — a cup
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. bound — certain
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. cabinet — a cupboard
  21. bear — the animal
  22. mug — a face
  23. bear — the animal
  24. coach — a trainer

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