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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: safe · jam · sharp · bank · spell · pass · dip · fan

  1. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  5. How do you ________________ your surname?
  6. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  11. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bank — for money
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. dip — to sink
  5. spell — letters
  6. dip — a sauce
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. sharp — clever
  10. pass — a permit
  11. spell — magic
  12. spell — a short time
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bank — of a river
  18. pass — to succeed
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. bank — for money
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. safe — a strongbox

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