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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: bank · mate · net · mug · bound · safe · rush · bowl

  1. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  2. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  3. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. That must've been a ________________.
  8. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  13. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  14. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  15. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  16. Have you found your soul ________________?
  17. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  18. That was ________________ to happen.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. mate — to breed
  2. bound — tied together
  3. bowl — a dish
  4. bank — of a river
  5. net — after costs
  6. bank — for money
  7. rush — a thrill
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bank — for money
  10. rush — hurry
  11. mug — a cup
  12. safe — a strongbox
  13. bound — obliged
  14. mate — a friend
  15. rush — to hurry
  16. mate — a partner
  17. bowl — to roll
  18. bound — certain
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mug — to rob
  21. mug — a face
  22. net — for catching
  23. net — in sport
  24. bowl — a football final

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