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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 120 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
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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: sharp · lash · mouse · racket · bank · hand · safe · stem

  1. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  7. It's one o'clock ________________.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  10. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  11. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  14. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  15. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  16. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  19. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — clever
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. hand — part of the body
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. lash — an eyelash
  7. sharp — exactly
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. hand — help
  10. mouse — for a computer
  11. mouse — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stem — a stem cell
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. hand — in cards
  16. racket — for tennis
  17. bank — for money
  18. stem — to come from
  19. lash — a whip stroke
  20. bank — for money
  21. racket — a loud noise
  22. bank — of a river
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. lash — to lash out

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