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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
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: arm · cue · fan · stock · mug · safe · plane · bass

  1. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  5. The ________________ took off on time.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  13. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  14. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. The ________________ market has crashed.
  19. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  20. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  21. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. bass — the fish
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. cue — a signal
  5. plane — an aircraft
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. bass — the instrument
  8. stock — goods
  9. plane — in geometry
  10. mug — to rob
  11. bass — low music
  12. arm — a part of something
  13. stock — a soup base
  14. mug — a face
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. mug — a cup
  17. cue — for pool
  18. stock — shares
  19. plane — a tool
  20. cue — a hint
  21. arm — part of the body
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. fan — a supporter

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