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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.

Words on the sheet
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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: leaves · lean · pitcher · bank · rock · date · content · safe

  1. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  3. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  4. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  5. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  6. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  7. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  8. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  12. He is an ace ________________.
  13. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  22. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  23. Have you settled on a ________________?
  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. rock — to move gently
  2. rock — music
  3. safe — out of danger
  4. leaves — to go away
  5. date — on the calendar
  6. leaves — of a tree
  7. content — videos and posts
  8. content — the amount
  9. bank — for money
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. lean — to bend
  12. pitcher — in baseball
  13. rock — a stone
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. content — happy
  18. bank — for money
  19. bank — of a river
  20. lean — thin
  21. date — the fruit
  22. pitcher — a jug
  23. date — on the calendar
  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