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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: chair · net · rock · branch · safe · bass · bore · jam

  1. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  2. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  3. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  9. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  10. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  23. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. bore — to drill
  2. net — in sport
  3. bass — the fish
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. branch — of a tree
  9. rock — music
  10. branch — a division
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. bass — low music
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. rock — a stone
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. chair — to sit on
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. bore — to tire
  19. net — after costs
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. net — for catching
  22. bore — gave birth
  23. chair — a leader
  24. safe — out of danger

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