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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: ruler · hand · safe · bulb · bank · rock · spring · cap

  1. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The light ________________ burned out.
  6. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  7. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  17. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. I've got to change the light ________________.
  23. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  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. ruler — for measuring
  2. spring — of water
  3. spring — the season
  4. bank — for money
  5. bulb — for light
  6. rock — to move gently
  7. spring — a coil
  8. rock — music
  9. hand — in cards
  10. bank — of a river
  11. ruler — a monarch
  12. hand — help
  13. bank — for money
  14. bulb — of a plant
  15. rock — a stone
  16. ruler — for measuring
  17. cap — of ice
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. safe — out of danger
  21. cap — a hat
  22. bulb — for light
  23. cap — a lid
  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