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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. We're on a ________________ here.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  10. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  16. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  19. What do you think of the new ________________?
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  24. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. mouse — the animal
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. roll — a cake
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. roll — on a roll
  8. bank — for money
  9. stock — goods
  10. safe — out of danger
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. bank — for money
  14. wake — a trail
  15. roll — a list
  16. mouse — for a computer
  17. stock — shares
  18. stock — a soup base
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. bank — of a river
  23. cabinet — a cupboard
  24. cabinet — ministers

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