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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  4. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  12. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  13. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  14. The light ________________ burned out.
  15. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  16. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. I've got to change the light ________________.
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  22. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. can — a tin
  3. fall — to drop
  4. can — a tin
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. drill — a practice
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. fall — to drop
  10. bank — for money
  11. drill — the tool
  12. bulb — of a plant
  13. sharp — clever
  14. bulb — for light
  15. fall — the season
  16. safe — a strongbox
  17. can — to be able to
  18. bank — for money
  19. bulb — for light
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. bowl — to roll
  22. drill — army training
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. bowl — a football final

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