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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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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: stand · bulb · snap · pitcher · chip · spring · bank · safe

  1. He is an ace ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  6. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  11. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  12. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  13. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  14. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  17. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  18. I've got to change the light ________________.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  21. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. Fill up this ________________ with water.

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

Answer key

  1. pitcher — in baseball
  2. bank — of a river
  3. spring — of water
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. chip — in a computer
  6. spring — a coil
  7. stand — to bear
  8. bank — for money
  9. chip — to eat
  10. snap — to speak sharply
  11. snap — to click
  12. stand — for spectators
  13. bulb — of a plant
  14. spring — the season
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. chip — for betting
  18. bulb — for light
  19. bank — for money
  20. snap — to snap out of it
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. bulb — for light
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. pitcher — a jug

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