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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. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  6. Did you ________________ the meat?
  7. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. She's very handy with a ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.

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

Answer key

  1. deal — a big deal
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. saw — past of 'see'
  4. saw — the tool
  5. current — of water
  6. season — to add flavour
  7. march — the month
  8. march — the month
  9. bank — for money
  10. season — of the year
  11. season — in sport
  12. rash — a series
  13. bank — for money
  14. saw — the tool
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. current — happening now
  17. bank — of a river
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. deal — to handle
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. current — electric
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. rash — hasty
  24. march — music

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