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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 116 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 captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  8. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  9. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  23. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. board — to get on
  2. bank — for money
  3. spring — the season
  4. prune — the fruit
  5. bank — for money
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. can — a tin
  8. leaves — to go away
  9. spring — a coil
  10. prune — to trim
  11. present — the time now
  12. bank — of a river
  13. prune — to trim
  14. spring — of water
  15. can — a tin
  16. can — to be able to
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. board — a committee
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. leaves — lets stay
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. present — a gift
  23. present — there
  24. safe — out of danger

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