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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. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  4. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  5. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  6. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  9. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  13. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  19. The light ________________ burned out.
  20. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  21. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  22. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  23. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  24. When are we going to ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. prune — to trim
  2. bank — for money
  3. fine — all right
  4. stick — a piece of wood
  5. safe — out of danger
  6. safe — a strongbox
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. scale — in music
  9. stick — to attach or keep to
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. prune — to trim
  13. land — a country
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. fine — high quality
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. prune — the fruit
  19. bulb — for light
  20. land — ground
  21. fine — a penalty
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. scale — size or range
  24. land — to come down

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