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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. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  2. What do you think of the new ________________?
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  12. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  13. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  17. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. bowl — a dish
  2. cabinet — ministers
  3. rest — a break
  4. wake — to stop sleeping
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. wake — a trail
  7. rest — what's left
  8. bank — for money
  9. rule — a law
  10. bank — for money
  11. bowl — a football final
  12. rule — to rule out
  13. cabinet — ministers
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. rule — government
  17. sharp — with an edge
  18. bank — of a river
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. wake — before a funeral
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bowl — to roll
  23. sharp — clever
  24. rest — what's left

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