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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  11. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  18. False peace will not ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  22. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  23. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. squash — the vegetable
  3. bank — for money
  4. can — a tin
  5. last — finally
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. squash — the sport
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. saw — the tool
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. saw — past of 'see'
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. can — a tin
  15. stick — a piece of wood
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. stick — a piece of wood
  18. last — to go on
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bank — for money
  21. can — to be able to
  22. squash — to crush
  23. last — final
  24. safe — out of danger

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