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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. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  18. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  21. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  22. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — the animal
  2. bank — for money
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. hand — help
  5. can — a tin
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. can — to be able to
  9. bank — for money
  10. season — of the year
  11. hand — in cards
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bear — the animal
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. bass — low music
  16. bank — of a river
  17. hand — part of the body
  18. bass — the fish
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. can — a tin
  21. bear — to put up with
  22. lash — to lash out
  23. season — in sport
  24. lash — an eyelash

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