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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: mine · safe · snap · bank · lean · pass · charge · band

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  15. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  16. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  17. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  18. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  19. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. pass — a permit
  4. bank — for money
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. band — a ring
  7. snap — to click
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bank — of a river
  10. lean — to rest against
  11. lean — to bend
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. band — a music group
  15. charge — electricity
  16. pass — to succeed
  17. mine — belonging to me
  18. band — a rubber band
  19. snap — to snap out of it
  20. lean — thin
  21. charge — a price
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. charge — in control
  24. mine — for digging

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