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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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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: bank · toast · safe · ruler · wind · sharp · rash · mate

  1. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  3. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  4. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  5. It's one o'clock ________________.
  6. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. Have you found your soul ________________?
  9. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  14. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  17. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  18. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  19. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  20. Don't do anything ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  24. This knife is not ________________ enough.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. toast — a drink to someone
  3. ruler — for measuring
  4. wind — to turn a key
  5. sharp — exactly
  6. sharp — clever
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mate — a partner
  9. safe — a strongbox
  10. wind — moving air
  11. mate — to breed
  12. rash — a series
  13. mate — a friend
  14. wind — moving air
  15. bank — for money
  16. toast — bread
  17. rash — on the skin
  18. ruler — a monarch
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. rash — hasty
  21. bank — of a river
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. safe — out of danger
  24. sharp — with an edge

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