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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. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  12. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  13. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. jam — to spread on bread
  2. bank — of a river
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. net — after costs
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. leaves — lets stay
  10. bank — for money
  11. snap — to speak sharply
  12. chip — for betting
  13. net — in sport
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. chip — to eat
  17. lie — to recline
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. net — for catching
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. snap — to click
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. bank — for money

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