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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  6. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  9. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  10. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  19. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  20. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. safe — a strongbox
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. bank — for money
  5. toast — bread
  6. current — happening now
  7. current — of water
  8. mark — to pay attention
  9. mark — a grade
  10. bass — the fish
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. toast — a drink to someone
  13. current — electric
  14. bank — for money
  15. bass — low music
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bank — of a river
  18. march — the month
  19. wake — a trail
  20. march — music
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. wake — before a funeral
  23. mark — a trace
  24. bass — the instrument

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