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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: object · deal · jam · prune · safe · bank · track · net

  1. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  2. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  5. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  11. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  15. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  21. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  22. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. jam — in traffic
  2. prune — to trim
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. track — a path
  5. net — in sport
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. track — a song
  8. jam — to spread on bread
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. deal — a big deal
  11. track — to keep track
  12. bank — for money
  13. bank — for money
  14. net — after costs
  15. jam — a tight spot
  16. prune — to trim
  17. net — for catching
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. object — a thing
  21. deal — to handle
  22. object — an aim
  23. bank — of a river
  24. object — to protest

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