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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: bank · safe · ball · court · jam · saw · leaves · bowl

  1. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  7. She's very handy with a ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The ball is in your ________________.
  20. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  21. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bank — of a river
  3. jam — in traffic
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. court — of a king
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bank — for money
  9. jam — to spread on bread
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. leaves — to go away
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. ball — a great time
  17. leaves — lets stay
  18. bank — for money
  19. court — for sport
  20. bowl — to roll
  21. court — of law
  22. ball — a dance
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bowl — a football final

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