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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  3. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  7. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  8. It's one o'clock ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Where did you ________________ them?
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  16. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  17. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  18. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. That was ________________ to happen.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. object — a thing
  3. bound — tied together
  4. bank — for money
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. mug — a face
  7. wave — with your hand
  8. sharp — exactly
  9. mug — a cup
  10. wake — a trail
  11. wave — a sudden rise
  12. bear — the animal
  13. mug — to rob
  14. bank — of a river
  15. sharp — clever
  16. bound — obliged
  17. wave — of the sea
  18. sharp — with an edge
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. object — an aim
  21. object — to protest
  22. bear — the animal
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. bound — certain

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