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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 112 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: current · bowl · tear · season · bank · stand · spring · safe

  1. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  2. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  5. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  6. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  7. I can't ________________ this cold.
  8. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  9. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  10. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  13. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  16. I cannot shed a ________________ for that horrible man.
  17. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  18. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Drying a ________________ is more honorable than shedding torrents of blood.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. It is only in accepting others that we can ________________ down our own barriers.

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

Answer key

  1. safe — out of danger
  2. bowl — a dish
  3. bank — for money
  4. safe — out of danger
  5. spring — the season
  6. bowl — to roll
  7. stand — to bear
  8. current — electric
  9. bowl — a football final
  10. spring — a coil
  11. current — of water
  12. current — happening now
  13. stand — on your feet
  14. bank — for money
  15. season — of the year
  16. tear — from crying
  17. safe — a strongbox
  18. stand — for spectators
  19. bank — of a river
  20. tear — from crying
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. spring — of water
  23. season — in sport
  24. tear — to rip

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