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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. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  2. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  3. What do you think of the new ________________?
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  8. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  16. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  17. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  22. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  23. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — to handle
  2. fine — high quality
  3. cabinet — ministers
  4. bank — for money
  5. prune — to trim
  6. spring — a coil
  7. toast — the most admired
  8. spring — of water
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. bank — of a river
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. prune — to trim
  14. spring — the season
  15. toast — bread
  16. bowl — to roll
  17. fine — all right
  18. bank — for money
  19. cabinet — ministers
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. bowl — a dish
  22. deal — a big deal
  23. toast — a drink to someone
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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