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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. This piece is in a major ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. I can't ________________ this cold.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  10. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  11. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. It's one o'clock ________________.
  18. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  19. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  20. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  21. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  22. He works in a ________________ mill.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. Have you found your soul ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. key — in music
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. stand — to bear
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. ball — a great time
  7. bank — for money
  8. saw — the tool
  9. key — for a lock
  10. sharp — clever
  11. lash — an eyelash
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bank — for money
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. stand — for spectators
  16. ball — a dance
  17. sharp — exactly
  18. mate — a friend
  19. mate — to breed
  20. sharp — with an edge
  21. stand — on your feet
  22. saw — the tool
  23. key — the most important part
  24. mate — a partner

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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