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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  4. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  5. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. This piece is in a major ________________.
  12. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  13. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  16. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  17. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  18. He works in a ________________ mill.
  19. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  20. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  21. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  22. She's very handy with a ________________.
  23. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bowl — a football final
  4. key — the most important part
  5. perch — for a bird
  6. bank — for money
  7. spring — the season
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. perch — for a bird
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. key — in music
  12. perch — the fish
  13. safe — out of danger
  14. bank — for money
  15. spring — a coil
  16. spring — of water
  17. wave — a sudden rise
  18. saw — the tool
  19. bowl — to roll
  20. key — for a lock
  21. wave — with your hand
  22. saw — the tool
  23. wave — of the sea
  24. safe — out of danger

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