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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 120 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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  8. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  9. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  10. The King held a masked ________________.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  15. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. spring — a coil
  3. spring — the season
  4. bank — for money
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. ball — a great time
  7. ball — a round shape
  8. bound — obliged
  9. kick — in football
  10. ball — a dance
  11. bound — tied together
  12. can — a tin
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. spring — of water
  15. can — to be able to
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. can — a tin
  19. safe — a strongbox
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. bound — certain
  24. bank — of a river

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