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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. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  2. That was ________________ to happen.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  7. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  8. The King held a masked ________________.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. He is an ace ________________.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. face — part of the head
  2. bound — certain
  3. bank — for money
  4. sharp — with an edge
  5. bank — for money
  6. bound — obliged
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. ball — a dance
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. face — to point toward
  11. sharp — clever
  12. bound — tied together
  13. face — to confront
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. pitcher — in baseball
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. current — happening now
  21. bank — of a river
  22. current — electric
  23. current — of water
  24. ball — a great time

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