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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  4. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  5. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  6. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  7. My mare is ________________ in color.
  8. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. How do you ________________ your surname?
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  24. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. chair — a leader
  3. spell — magic
  4. safe — a strongbox
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. chair — a professorship
  7. bay — a horse colour
  8. bay — a part of the sea
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. mate — to breed
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. chair — to sit on
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. bank — for money
  15. mate — a friend
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. coach — pulled by horses
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. spell — letters
  21. mate — a partner
  22. bank — for money
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. spell — a short time

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