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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  5. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  6. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  10. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  11. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  12. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  13. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  14. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  19. Have you settled on a ________________?
  20. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. wave — of the sea
  3. bank — for money
  4. wake — before a funeral
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. date — on the calendar
  7. track — to keep track
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. wake — to stop sleeping
  10. safe — a strongbox
  11. track — a path
  12. wave — with your hand
  13. spring — a coil
  14. wake — a trail
  15. track — a song
  16. spring — the season
  17. rush — hurry
  18. wave — a sudden rise
  19. date — on the calendar
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. date — the fruit
  22. spring — of water
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. bank — for money

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