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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. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  2. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  6. That was ________________ to happen.
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  14. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. Did you ________________ the meat?
  19. It's one o'clock ________________.
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. season — in sport
  2. bound — obliged
  3. mark — a grade
  4. bank — for money
  5. mark — a trace
  6. bound — certain
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. bowl — a dish
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bowl — to roll
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. stick — a piece of wood
  14. season — of the year
  15. sharp — clever
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. season — to add flavour
  19. sharp — exactly
  20. bound — tied together
  21. stick — to attach or keep to
  22. bank — for money
  23. sharp — with an edge
  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