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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. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  2. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  7. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  8. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  11. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  15. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  16. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. safe — out of danger
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bank — for money
  6. march — music
  7. safe — out of danger
  8. safe — a strongbox
  9. bank — of a river
  10. bass — low music
  11. mug — a cup
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. march — the month
  16. face — part of the head
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. bank — for money
  19. face — to point toward
  20. mug — a face
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. face — to confront
  23. mug — to rob
  24. coach — pulled by horses

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