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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. What do you think of the new ________________?
  2. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. There's no middle ________________.
  6. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  7. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  15. How do you ________________ your surname?
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  18. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  19. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.

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

Answer key

  1. cabinet — ministers
  2. tube — a container
  3. ground — the earth
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. ground — a position
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. cabinet — a cupboard
  8. ground — crushed
  9. spell — a short time
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bass — the instrument
  12. bank — for money
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. ruler — a monarch
  15. spell — letters
  16. spell — magic
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. tube — in a tire
  19. bass — the fish
  20. bass — low music
  21. bank — of a river
  22. tube — the underground
  23. bank — for money
  24. ruler — for measuring

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