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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. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  3. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Have you met the new head ________________?
  6. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  18. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  21. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  22. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. mine — an explosive
  3. staff — employees
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. coach — a trainer
  6. coach — a trainer
  7. fine — all right
  8. bank — for money
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bear — to put up with
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. staff — a stick
  13. fine — high quality
  14. bank — for money
  15. staff — employees
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bear — the animal
  18. mine — for digging
  19. net — after costs
  20. mine — belonging to me
  21. net — for catching
  22. net — in sport
  23. bear — the animal
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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