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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: bark · can · rush · spring · plane · safe · net · bear

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  7. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  8. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  19. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  20. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  21. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  24. The ________________ took off on time.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. spring — a coil
  4. rush — hurry
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. plane — a tool
  7. bark — of a tree
  8. plane — in geometry
  9. can — a tin
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bear — to put up with
  13. bear — the animal
  14. can — to be able to
  15. spring — of water
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. can — a tin
  18. net — for catching
  19. bark — a dog's sound
  20. bear — the animal
  21. bark — to shout
  22. net — in sport
  23. spring — the season
  24. plane — an aircraft

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