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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 116 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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  6. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  14. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — the animal
  2. land — to come down
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. land — a country
  6. mouse — for a computer
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. land — ground
  10. sharp — clever
  11. bass — low music
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. sharp — with an edge
  15. bank — for money
  16. bass — the fish
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. bank — for money

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