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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. I'll be taking the ________________.
  2. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  7. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  8. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  9. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  12. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  19. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. When are we going to ________________?
  24. Did you ________________ the meat?

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. pound — a weight
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. season — of the year
  5. bank — for money
  6. date — the fruit
  7. tube — in a tire
  8. safe — out of danger
  9. ball — a great time
  10. bank — for money
  11. tube — a container
  12. ball — a round shape
  13. bank — of a river
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. land — a country
  16. ball — a dance
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. pound — for dogs
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. season — in sport
  22. land — ground
  23. land — to come down
  24. season — to add flavour

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