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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. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  2. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  3. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  11. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  17. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. The tickets are free of ________________.
  20. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  21. Have you settled on a ________________?
  22. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  23. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  24. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.

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

Answer key

  1. drill — a practice
  2. net — for catching
  3. wind — moving air
  4. bank — for money
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. charge — in control
  7. bank — for money
  8. net — in sport
  9. charge — electricity
  10. wind — moving air
  11. date — the fruit
  12. bank — of a river
  13. net — after costs
  14. bass — the fish
  15. drill — the tool
  16. date — on the calendar
  17. drill — army training
  18. firm — steady
  19. charge — a price
  20. wind — to turn a key
  21. date — on the calendar
  22. firm — a company
  23. firm — decided
  24. bass — low music

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