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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.

Make a worksheet

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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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: safe · net · saw · bank · drill · pitcher

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. She's very handy with a ________________.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  12. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. saw — the tool
  3. net — for catching
  4. saw — the tool
  5. drill — army training
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. drill — a practice
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. bank — of a river
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. net — in sport
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. net — after costs
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. bank — for money
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. drill — the tool
  18. pitcher — a jug

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