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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.

Make a worksheet

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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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: racket · bear · safe · lash · bass · mine · bank · arm

  1. My father caught me by the ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  8. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  9. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  10. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. arm — part of the body
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. lash — an eyelash
  4. bank — for money
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. bass — low music
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. mine — belonging to me
  10. mine — for digging
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. bank — for money
  14. bear — the animal
  15. bank — of a river
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bass — the fish
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. racket — for tennis
  22. bear — the animal
  23. racket — a loud noise
  24. bear — to put up with

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