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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: saw · safe · jam · mug · roll · bank · bear · toast

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  10. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  13. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  14. We're on a ________________ here.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Where did you ________________ them?
  18. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  19. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  20. He works in a ________________ mill.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. bank — for money
  3. toast — a drink to someone
  4. bank — for money
  5. jam — a tight spot
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. mug — a face
  10. saw — past of 'see'
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. jam — in traffic
  13. jam — to spread on bread
  14. roll — on a roll
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. roll — a cake
  17. mug — to rob
  18. toast — bread
  19. toast — the most admired
  20. saw — the tool
  21. saw — the tool
  22. bear — the animal
  23. bear — the animal
  24. roll — a list

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