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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. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  4. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  7. The light ________________ burned out.
  8. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  9. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  16. The ________________ market has crashed.
  17. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  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. stock — a soup base
  2. bank — for money
  3. safe — a strongbox
  4. lie — an untruth
  5. bulb — for light
  6. perch — the fish
  7. bulb — for light
  8. stock — goods
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. staff — employees
  11. perch — for a bird
  12. staff — a stick
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. stock — shares
  17. staff — employees
  18. bank — of a river
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. bank — for money
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bulb — of a plant
  23. lie — to recline
  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