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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. Don't do anything ________________.
  2. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  3. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  4. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  5. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  6. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  7. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  8. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  12. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  21. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  22. Have you met the new head ________________?
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — hasty
  2. bowl — a football final
  3. hand — in cards
  4. bowl — to roll
  5. rash — a series
  6. coach — pulled by horses
  7. safe — a strongbox
  8. current — happening now
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. current — of water
  11. current — electric
  12. hand — help
  13. bank — of a river
  14. hand — part of the body
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. safe — out of danger
  17. bank — for money
  18. pitcher — a jug
  19. bank — for money
  20. coach — a trainer
  21. safe — out of danger
  22. coach — a trainer
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. bowl — a dish

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