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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.

Make a worksheet

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: present · pitcher · wake · bat · jam · bank · stand · safe

  1. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  4. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  11. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  20. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  21. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.

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

Answer key

  1. bat — for baseball
  2. bank — for money
  3. stand — on your feet
  4. stand — for spectators
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. bank — for money
  7. stand — to bear
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. present — there
  11. bat — the animal
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. wake — a trail
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. present — a gift
  16. present — the time now
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bat — in an idiom
  20. wake — to stop sleeping
  21. jam — in traffic
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bank — of a river
  24. wake — before a funeral

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