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

Word bank: bark · bank · pitch · key · wake · safe · deal · ground

  1. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  3. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  4. There's no middle ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  9. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  10. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  13. This piece is in a major ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  18. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  21. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. pitch — completely
  3. ground — the earth
  4. ground — a position
  5. bank — of a river
  6. safe — out of danger
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. ground — crushed
  9. wake — before a funeral
  10. pitch — a sports field
  11. deal — to handle
  12. pitch — a sales talk
  13. key — in music
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. key — for a lock
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. bark — a dog's sound
  18. safe — out of danger
  19. bank — for money
  20. wake — a trail
  21. bark — of a tree
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. key — the most important part
  24. bank — for money

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