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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. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  2. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The ________________ market has crashed.
  10. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  14. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  15. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  20. The ________________ went through the wall.
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — for a hammer
  2. stock — a soup base
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. rest — what's left
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. leaves — of a tree
  8. bank — for money
  9. stock — shares
  10. stock — goods
  11. bank — of a river
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. safe — a strongbox
  14. rest — what's left
  15. pass — a permit
  16. bank — for money
  17. bass — the instrument
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. rest — a break
  20. nail — for a hammer
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. bass — the fish
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. bass — low music

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