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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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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  10. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  13. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  14. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  15. The light ________________ burned out.
  16. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. row — to paddle
  3. bank — for money
  4. row — a quarrel
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. bank — for money
  7. bulb — for light
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. pound — a weight
  10. mine — belonging to me
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. pound — for dogs
  13. bore — to drill
  14. bore — gave birth
  15. bulb — for light
  16. leaves — lets stay
  17. bank — of a river
  18. bore — to tire
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. mine — for digging
  21. pound — to hit hard
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. bulb — of a plant

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