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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 120 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.

Words on the sheet
468
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: lash · bass · safe · mine · lean · net · mate · tube

  1. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  2. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  3. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  4. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  7. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  14. Have you found your soul ________________?
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. I'll be taking the ________________.
  21. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  22. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. lean — to rest against
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. mine — for digging
  4. bass — the instrument
  5. bass — the fish
  6. lash — a whip stroke
  7. lash — an eyelash
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. net — in sport
  11. mate — to breed
  12. lean — thin
  13. mine — belonging to me
  14. mate — a partner
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. net — after costs
  17. net — for catching
  18. lean — to bend
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. tube — the underground
  21. mate — a friend
  22. tube — a container
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bass — low music

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