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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: mug · bank · safe · arm · jam · plane · season · ground

  1. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  6. My father caught me by the ________________.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the meat?
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. The ________________ took off on time.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. ground — crushed
  3. jam — to spread on bread
  4. ground — a position
  5. plane — a tool
  6. arm — part of the body
  7. mug — a face
  8. jam — in traffic
  9. bank — for money
  10. ground — the earth
  11. mug — a cup
  12. season — in sport
  13. season — of the year
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mug — to rob
  16. bank — of a river
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. plane — in geometry
  19. season — to add flavour
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. plane — an aircraft
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. bank — for money
  24. safe — out of danger

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