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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. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  2. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  5. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  15. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  16. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  17. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  20. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  24. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — a strongbox
  2. spring — the season
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. leaves — lets stay
  5. board — a flat piece
  6. bank — of a river
  7. straw — a straw man
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. spring — of water
  10. bank — for money
  11. stock — a soup base
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. stock — shares
  14. spring — a coil
  15. board — to get on
  16. toast — the most admired
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. stock — goods
  19. straw — dry grass
  20. toast — bread
  21. board — a committee
  22. bank — for money
  23. straw — to clutch at straws
  24. toast — a drink to someone

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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