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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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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: jam · bound · bore · bank · drill · fan · can · safe

  1. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  6. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  10. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  11. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  17. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bank — for money
  3. drill — a practice
  4. can — to be able to
  5. bore — gave birth
  6. can — a tin
  7. can — a tin
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. bore — to drill
  10. bound — obliged
  11. fan — to cool the air
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. drill — the tool
  16. jam — a tight spot
  17. bore — to tire
  18. drill — army training
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bank — for money
  23. bound — certain
  24. bound — tied together

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