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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  6. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  13. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  16. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  20. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. bank — for money
  3. track — a song
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. mine — belonging to me
  7. stand — to bear
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. prune — to trim
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. track — a path
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. track — to keep track
  16. calf — of the leg
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. prune — to trim
  20. mine — for digging
  21. bank — for money
  22. bank — of a river
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. pitcher — a jug

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