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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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: mine · lie · safe · bass · jam · foot · trunk · fork

  1. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  2. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  3. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  7. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  12. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  15. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. fork — in a road
  2. lie — to recline
  3. bass — low music
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bass — the fish
  6. fork — to eat with
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. fork — a garden tool
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. jam — to spread on bread
  12. foot — part of the body
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. mine — an explosive
  15. trunk — of a car
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. foot — a measure
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. mine — for digging
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. bass — the instrument
  24. safe — out of danger

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