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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  6. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. When are we going to ________________?
  18. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. It's one o'clock ________________.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bank — for money
  3. rest — a break
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. land — ground
  6. rest — what's left
  7. bank — of a river
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. sharp — clever
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. charge — in control
  12. sharp — with an edge
  13. land — a country
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. coach — pulled by horses
  16. bear — the animal
  17. land — to come down
  18. charge — electricity
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. charge — a price
  21. sharp — exactly
  22. bank — for money
  23. bear — the animal
  24. rest — what's left

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