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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: mine · bank · calf · wave · object · safe · press · nail

  1. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  4. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  5. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  13. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  14. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  15. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  16. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  17. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  20. Did you ________________ the button?
  21. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  22. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  23. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  24. She's sitting on a gold ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. press — a publisher
  2. bank — of a river
  3. mine — belonging to me
  4. mine — an explosive
  5. wave — with your hand
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. calf — a young animal
  8. press — newspapers
  9. bank — for money
  10. object — an aim
  11. object — a thing
  12. wave — a sudden rise
  13. nail — for a hammer
  14. wave — of the sea
  15. safe — a strongbox
  16. object — to protest
  17. calf — of the leg
  18. bank — for money
  19. safe — out of danger
  20. press — to push
  21. nail — on a finger
  22. safe — out of danger
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. mine — for digging

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