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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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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. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  10. The light ________________ burned out.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  23. My father caught me by the ________________.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. face — to confront
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bass — low music
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. arm — a part of something
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. row — a line
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. tube — a container
  10. bulb — for light
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bass — the fish
  13. face — to point toward
  14. row — to paddle
  15. bank — for money
  16. row — a quarrel
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. face — part of the head
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bulb — for light
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. arm — part of the body
  24. 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