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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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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: safe · bass · march · ball · row · bank · bulb · pitcher

  1. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  2. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  5. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. I've got to change the light ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The light ________________ burned out.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I had a ________________ with my boss today.

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

Answer key

  1. bass — the instrument
  2. ball — a round shape
  3. bass — the fish
  4. row — to paddle
  5. bass — low music
  6. bank — of a river
  7. ball — a dance
  8. march — the month
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bulb — for light
  11. march — music
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bank — for money
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. row — a line
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. bulb — for light
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. bank — for money
  22. march — the month
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. row — a quarrel

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