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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: temple · safe · rock · bank · fork · court · saw · ball

  1. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. The ball is in your ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. When was this ________________ built?
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  22. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.

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

Answer key

  1. court — of law
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bank — for money
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. fork — to eat with
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. fork — a garden tool
  8. bank — for money
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fork — in a road
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. court — for sport
  15. rock — a stone
  16. temple — a place of worship
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. ball — a great time
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. temple — a place of worship
  22. rock — music
  23. ball — a dance
  24. court — of a king

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