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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.

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: chair · ball · snap · jam · fan · safe · scale · bank

  1. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  2. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  3. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. The King held a masked ________________.
  16. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. Would you like some apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. chair — a leader
  2. chair — to sit on
  3. ball — a great time
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. scale — in music
  6. scale — size or range
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. bank — for money
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. snap — to click
  15. ball — a dance
  16. snap — to snap out of it
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. bank — for money
  20. ball — a round shape
  21. bank — of a river
  22. fan — to cool the air
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. jam — to spread on bread

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