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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 116 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
468
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: pit · stock · key · leaves · rush · straw · bank · safe

  1. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  2. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  3. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  7. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  8. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  9. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  10. The ________________ market has crashed.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  13. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  14. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. This piece is in a major ________________.
  18. That must've been a ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. pit — a fruit stone
  2. straw — a straw man
  3. stock — goods
  4. bank — of a river
  5. pit — a hole
  6. rush — hurry
  7. straw — to clutch at straws
  8. straw — dry grass
  9. safe — out of danger
  10. stock — shares
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. leaves — of a tree
  13. key — the most important part
  14. safe — out of danger
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. key — for a lock
  17. key — in music
  18. rush — a thrill
  19. bank — for money
  20. stock — a soup base
  21. bank — for money
  22. safe — a strongbox
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. pit — in a race

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