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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.

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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. This piece is in a major ________________.
  6. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. Did you ________________ the meat?
  9. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  15. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  16. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  20. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  21. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — for money
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. key — in music
  6. key — the most important part
  7. ball — a great time
  8. season — to add flavour
  9. prune — to trim
  10. lie — to recline
  11. prune — the fruit
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. season — of the year
  14. chip — for betting
  15. lash — to lash out
  16. lie — an untruth
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. prune — to trim
  20. chip — to eat
  21. season — in sport
  22. bank — of a river
  23. ball — a dance
  24. key — for a lock

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