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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 · land · mate · safe · press · bank · wave · can

  1. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  5. My mare is ________________ in color.
  6. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  13. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  14. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  17. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  18. Did you ________________ the button?
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  21. Have you found your soul ________________?
  22. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  23. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  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. wave — of the sea
  2. land — to come down
  3. bank — of a river
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. bay — a horse colour
  6. wave — a sudden rise
  7. can — to be able to
  8. land — a country
  9. bank — for money
  10. press — a publisher
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. bay — a part of the sea
  13. bay — to keep at bay
  14. wave — with your hand
  15. bank — for money
  16. can — a tin
  17. press — newspapers
  18. press — to push
  19. can — a tin
  20. mate — to breed
  21. mate — a partner
  22. land — ground
  23. mate — a friend
  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