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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 120 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. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  2. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  3. When will it ________________ you to start?
  4. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  13. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  16. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. content — videos and posts
  2. mine — belonging to me
  3. suit — to fit
  4. content — the amount
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. board — to get on
  7. suit — in cards
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. bank — of a river
  10. suit — clothes
  11. bank — for money
  12. rush — hurry
  13. board — a flat piece
  14. bank — for money
  15. mine — for digging
  16. mine — an explosive
  17. board — a committee
  18. content — happy

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