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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: key · bound · jam · firm · bank · scale · safe · tube

  1. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  3. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  4. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  5. That was ________________ to happen.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  10. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. key — the most important part
  3. scale — size or range
  4. bound — obliged
  5. bound — certain
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. key — for a lock
  8. scale — in music
  9. scale — for weighing
  10. firm — steady
  11. bank — of a river
  12. firm — a company
  13. bound — tied together
  14. key — in music
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. tube — in a tire
  17. bank — for money
  18. tube — a container
  19. jam — in traffic
  20. tube — the underground
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. bank — for money
  24. firm — decided

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