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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. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  4. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  5. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  6. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  7. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  8. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  14. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. There's no middle ________________.
  21. What do you think of the new ________________?
  22. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.

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

Answer key

  1. ground — the earth
  2. bank — of a river
  3. ground — crushed
  4. object — to protest
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. cabinet — a cupboard
  7. band — a music group
  8. toast — the most admired
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bank — for money
  11. band — a ring
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. toast — a drink to someone
  14. object — a thing
  15. toast — bread
  16. bank — for money
  17. can — a tin
  18. object — an aim
  19. can — a tin
  20. ground — a position
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. band — a rubber band
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. calf — a young animal

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