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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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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: bat · rash · safe · wax · bulb · ball · season · bank

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Don't do anything ________________.
  5. Did you ________________ the meat?
  6. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  9. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  10. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  11. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  14. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  18. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. bank — for money
  4. rash — hasty
  5. season — to add flavour
  6. bat — in an idiom
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. season — of the year
  9. wax — in the ear
  10. wax — to grow
  11. rash — on the skin
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. season — in sport
  14. bat — the animal
  15. bulb — for light
  16. bank — for money
  17. rash — a series
  18. ball — a great time
  19. ball — a dance
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. bulb — for light
  24. bat — for baseball

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