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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: content · perch · suit · bear · nail · bound · safe · chest

  1. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  2. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  11. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  12. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  13. When will it ________________ you to start?
  14. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  15. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  16. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  17. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  20. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  21. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. suit — clothes
  2. nail — on a finger
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. bear — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. bound — certain
  7. perch — the fish
  8. bound — tied together
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. chest — of your body
  12. chest — a box
  13. suit — to fit
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. content — happy
  16. content — the amount
  17. nail — for a hammer
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. chest — of your body
  20. content — videos and posts
  21. suit — in cards
  22. bound — obliged
  23. bear — the animal
  24. bear — to put up with

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