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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  5. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  11. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  12. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. The ________________ went through the wall.
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. My mare is ________________ in color.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  23. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. bound — obliged
  4. sharp — clever
  5. fall — the season
  6. bear — the animal
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. toast — bread
  10. fall — to drop
  11. bay — to keep at bay
  12. toast — the most admired
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. bound — tied together
  15. fall — to drop
  16. nail — for a hammer
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. bear — the animal
  19. bay — a horse colour
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — for money
  22. bay — a part of the sea
  23. nail — on a finger
  24. bound — certain

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