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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  3. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  9. Have you found your soul ________________?
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  12. There's no middle ________________.
  13. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  23. Have you met the new head ________________?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. ground — crushed
  3. pit — in a race
  4. bank — for money
  5. safe — a strongbox
  6. can — a tin
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. pit — a hole
  9. mate — a partner
  10. can — to be able to
  11. pit — a fruit stone
  12. ground — a position
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bank — for money
  15. mate — a friend
  16. track — a song
  17. track — a path
  18. ground — the earth
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mate — to breed
  21. can — a tin
  22. track — to keep track
  23. coach — a trainer
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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