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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 in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  12. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  13. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  14. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. wake — before a funeral
  4. bank — of a river
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. wake — a trail
  7. fine — all right
  8. march — the month
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. current — of water
  11. march — music
  12. fine — a penalty
  13. bank — for money
  14. march — the month
  15. current — happening now
  16. wake — to stop sleeping
  17. current — electric
  18. fine — high quality

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