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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. It's one o'clock ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  8. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  11. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  19. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  20. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  21. The King held a masked ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  24. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?

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

Answer key

  1. sharp — exactly
  2. bank — of a river
  3. object — a thing
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. stock — goods
  6. bank — for money
  7. stock — a soup base
  8. plane — a tool
  9. stock — shares
  10. trunk — of an elephant
  11. sharp — clever
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. bank — for money
  14. object — an aim
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. trunk — of a car
  20. plane — in geometry
  21. ball — a dance
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. ball — a great time
  24. object — to protest

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