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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 120 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. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Where did you ________________ them?
  6. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  7. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  13. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. False peace will not ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  24. Is it ________________ for us to be here?

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

Answer key

  1. last — final
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. last — finally
  4. bank — for money
  5. mug — to rob
  6. track — a path
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. bear — the animal
  9. wax — to grow
  10. bank — of a river
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. safe — out of danger
  13. ruler — for measuring
  14. track — to keep track
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. last — to go on
  18. bank — for money
  19. track — a song
  20. mug — a face
  21. wax — for sculpting
  22. mug — a cup
  23. bear — the animal
  24. safe — out of danger

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