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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: bound · perch · bank · dip · safe · arm · roll · net

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  10. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  16. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  17. We're on a ________________ here.
  18. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  19. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. arm — part of the body
  3. bound — obliged
  4. bank — of a river
  5. net — for catching
  6. net — in sport
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. arm — a part of something
  10. dip — to sink
  11. bank — for money
  12. bank — for money
  13. roll — a cake
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. bound — tied together
  16. perch — the fish
  17. roll — on a roll
  18. dip — to dunk
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. bound — certain
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. roll — a list
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. arm — part of the body

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