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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. She's very handy with a ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. Have you met the new head ________________?
  11. He works in a ________________ mill.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  17. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  18. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  19. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  20. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  21. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bass — the fish
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. saw — the tool
  6. bank — of a river
  7. bank — for money
  8. bound — tied together
  9. bound — certain
  10. coach — a trainer
  11. saw — the tool
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bass — the instrument
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. bound — obliged
  16. coach — a trainer
  17. mine — for digging
  18. racket — for tennis
  19. racket — a loud noise
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. mine — belonging to me
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. bass — low music
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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