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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. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  4. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  8. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Don't do anything ________________.
  16. The King held a masked ________________.
  17. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  24. My mare is ________________ in color.

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

Answer key

  1. ball — a great time
  2. bank — for money
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. staff — a stick
  5. bank — for money
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. staff — employees
  8. racket — a loud noise
  9. rash — a series
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. wind — moving air
  12. bank — of a river
  13. ball — a round shape
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. rash — hasty
  16. ball — a dance
  17. racket — for tennis
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. staff — employees
  20. bay — to keep at bay
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. wind — moving air
  23. wind — to turn a key
  24. bay — a horse colour

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