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

Word bank: safe · bank · pitcher · mine · snap · pit · stand · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. I can't ________________ this cold.
  9. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  18. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  19. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  24. Boris sat near the fire ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. snap — to snap out of it
  3. bank — for money
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. pitcher — a jug
  6. pit — in a race
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. stand — to bear
  9. mine — an explosive
  10. snap — to click
  11. mine — belonging to me
  12. bank — for money
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. stand — on your feet
  16. bank — of a river
  17. snap — to speak sharply
  18. pit — a fruit stone
  19. fork — a garden tool
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. mine — for digging
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. fork — to eat with
  24. pit — a hole

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