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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: snap · bank · stem · arm · board · scale · safe · date

  1. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  4. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. My father caught me by the ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. stem — a stem cell
  4. scale — in music
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. snap — to snap out of it
  7. bank — for money
  8. board — to get on
  9. stem — to come from
  10. snap — to click
  11. arm — part of the body
  12. board — a committee
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. bank — of a river
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. stem — of a plant
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. bank — for money
  21. scale — size or range
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. date — the fruit

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