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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: plane · staff · safe · bulb · bank · track · squash · saw

  1. The light ________________ burned out.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. She's very handy with a ________________.
  4. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The ________________ took off on time.
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. I've got to change the light ________________.
  15. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  18. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.

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

Answer key

  1. bulb — for light
  2. bank — for money
  3. saw — the tool
  4. squash — to crush
  5. squash — the sport
  6. track — a path
  7. bulb — of a plant
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. plane — a tool
  10. plane — an aircraft
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bank — of a river
  14. bulb — for light
  15. staff — employees
  16. saw — the tool
  17. staff — a stick
  18. track — to keep track
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. squash — the vegetable
  21. staff — employees
  22. plane — in geometry
  23. bank — for money
  24. track — a song

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