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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  3. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  4. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  5. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  6. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  11. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  12. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  13. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  14. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  17. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  18. Have you settled on a ________________?
  19. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. He is an ace ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. bear — the animal
  3. bear — to put up with
  4. date — the fruit
  5. present — a gift
  6. present — the time now
  7. fine — all right
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. bank — for money
  10. jam — to spread on bread
  11. fine — high quality
  12. pitcher — a jug
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. bear — the animal
  15. scale — in music
  16. jam — in traffic
  17. scale — for weighing
  18. date — on the calendar
  19. jam — a tight spot
  20. bank — for money
  21. bank — of a river
  22. present — there
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. pitcher — in baseball

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