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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 had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  2. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. She's very handy with a ________________.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  9. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  10. The water is too ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  13. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  14. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  15. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  16. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. That was ________________ to happen.
  21. He works in a ________________ mill.
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. cold — an illness
  2. cold — the Cold War
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — for money
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. saw — the tool
  7. present — there
  8. saw — past of 'see'
  9. present — a gift
  10. cold — not warm
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. shower — rain
  14. shower — a meteor shower
  15. bound — obliged
  16. present — the time now
  17. bound — tied together
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bound — certain
  21. saw — the tool
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. shower — to wash
  24. safe — out of danger

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