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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: ball · safe · net · toast · bear · arm · bound · row

  1. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  2. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  3. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  4. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  5. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  8. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. net — after costs
  2. bear — the animal
  3. toast — the most admired
  4. toast — a drink to someone
  5. row — a line
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. row — a quarrel
  8. net — for catching
  9. toast — bread
  10. bound — tied together
  11. bear — the animal
  12. bound — certain
  13. net — in sport
  14. ball — a great time
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bound — obliged
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. row — to paddle
  20. bear — to put up with
  21. ball — a dance
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. arm — a part of something

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