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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  3. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  4. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  5. He is an ace ________________.
  6. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  7. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  16. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  17. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  18. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  21. The ________________ went through the wall.
  22. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  23. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  24. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. row — a quarrel
  4. drill — a practice
  5. pitcher — in baseball
  6. stick — a piece of wood
  7. pitcher — a jug
  8. bank — for money
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. row — a line
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. bank — of a river
  13. row — to paddle
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. stick — to attach or keep to
  16. stick — a piece of wood
  17. nail — on a finger
  18. leaves — of a tree
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. drill — the tool
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. nail — for a hammer
  24. drill — army training

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