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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: bay · cabinet · toast · stock · safe · plane · bank · face

  1. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  2. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  3. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  11. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  12. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  13. The ________________ market has crashed.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  16. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  17. The ________________ took off on time.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  20. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  23. My mare is ________________ in color.
  24. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. stock — a soup base
  2. toast — the most admired
  3. face — to confront
  4. bank — for money
  5. bank — for money
  6. plane — in geometry
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. toast — a drink to someone
  9. plane — a tool
  10. bay — a part of the sea
  11. safe — a strongbox
  12. toast — bread
  13. stock — shares
  14. bank — of a river
  15. safe — out of danger
  16. bay — to keep at bay
  17. plane — an aircraft
  18. stock — goods
  19. face — to point toward
  20. face — part of the head
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. cabinet — ministers
  23. bay — a horse colour
  24. cabinet — a cupboard

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