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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: safe · mate · bank · jam · bear · track · pop · rock

  1. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. We're almost out of ________________.
  5. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  6. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  7. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  21. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  22. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  23. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bear — the animal
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. pop — soda
  5. jam — to spread on bread
  6. jam — a tight spot
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. mate — a partner
  9. mate — a friend
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. track — a song
  12. mate — to breed
  13. jam — in traffic
  14. pop — to visit
  15. track — to keep track
  16. rock — music
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — a strongbox
  19. bank — for money
  20. pop — music
  21. bear — the animal
  22. track — a path
  23. rock — a stone
  24. bank — for money

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