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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. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  2. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  3. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  6. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  7. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  8. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  22. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. snap — to click
  2. bass — the instrument
  3. bore — gave birth
  4. bank — for money
  5. bore — to drill
  6. lash — to lash out
  7. bore — to tire
  8. lash — a whip stroke
  9. bank — for money
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. row — to paddle
  17. bass — the fish
  18. jam — a tight spot
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bass — low music
  21. snap — to snap out of it
  22. row — a line
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. jam — in traffic

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