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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: last · pitcher · can · craft · charge · bear · safe · bank

  1. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  2. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. False peace will not ________________.
  8. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. He spent years learning his ________________ as a carpenter.
  14. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  15. Flower arranging is a traditional ________________ in Japan.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. He is an ace ________________.
  18. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. The tickets are free of ________________.
  21. Small ________________ should stay in the harbor during the storm.
  22. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — a jug
  2. can — a tin
  3. bank — for money
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. last — finally
  6. charge — in control
  7. last — to go on
  8. bear — to put up with
  9. can — to be able to
  10. bank — for money
  11. can — a tin
  12. bear — the animal
  13. craft — a skill
  14. safe — a strongbox
  15. craft — a handicraft
  16. bear — the animal
  17. pitcher — in baseball
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — a price
  21. craft — boats
  22. last — final
  23. bank — of a river
  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