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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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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: bank · stand · wake · leaves · mine · safe · bat · deal

  1. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  2. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  3. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  4. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  5. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  6. I can't ________________ this cold.
  7. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The ________________ was stolen yesterday, along with the balls.
  11. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. The ________________ hangs upside down in the cave.
  18. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  19. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  20. Tom didn't even ________________ an eye.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  23. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  24. He has no idea where the ________________ is.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — on your feet
  2. mine — for digging
  3. wake — to stop sleeping
  4. mine — belonging to me
  5. leaves — lets stay
  6. stand — to bear
  7. wake — a trail
  8. bank — for money
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. bat — for baseball
  11. deal — a big deal
  12. bank — for money
  13. leaves — of a tree
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bank — of a river
  17. bat — the animal
  18. deal — to handle
  19. mine — an explosive
  20. bat — in an idiom
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. leaves — to go away
  23. wake — before a funeral
  24. safe — a strongbox

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