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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. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  7. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  13. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  14. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  15. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  16. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  21. She's very handy with a ________________.
  22. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  23. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  24. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.

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

Answer key

  1. row — a line
  2. bank — of a river
  3. drill — the tool
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — for money
  6. drill — a practice
  7. mark — a trace
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. lean — thin
  10. lean — to bend
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. scale — size or range
  13. scale — for weighing
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. mark — a grade
  16. mark — to pay attention
  17. saw — the tool
  18. drill — army training
  19. row — to paddle
  20. scale — in music
  21. saw — the tool
  22. saw — past of 'see'
  23. row — a quarrel
  24. lean — to rest against

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