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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  12. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  15. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  16. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. There's no middle ________________.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  23. The ________________ market has crashed.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. stock — a soup base
  4. bank — for money
  5. ground — crushed
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. bear — the animal
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. deal — to handle
  10. bank — for money
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. dip — to sink
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. dip — to dunk
  15. bear — the animal
  16. ground — the earth
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. ground — a position
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. deal — an agreement
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. stock — goods
  23. stock — shares
  24. leaves — lets stay

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