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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. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. Have you found your soul ________________?
  7. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  8. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  11. I'll be taking the ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  16. Did you ________________ the meat?
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  20. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  21. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bank — of a river
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. rule — a law
  5. squash — the sport
  6. mate — a partner
  7. squash — the vegetable
  8. tube — in a tire
  9. bank — for money
  10. rule — to rule out
  11. tube — the underground
  12. bank — for money
  13. squash — to crush
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. season — to add flavour
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. season — in sport
  19. mate — a friend
  20. tube — a container
  21. mate — to breed
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. season — of the year
  24. rule — government

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