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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. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  4. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  9. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  10. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  13. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  14. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  15. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  16. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  17. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  22. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  23. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  24. The old man leaned on his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. chest — a box
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. chest — of your body
  4. ruler — a monarch
  5. bank — for money
  6. chest — of your body
  7. bank — of a river
  8. dip — a sauce
  9. lash — to lash out
  10. jam — a tight spot
  11. bass — low music
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. bass — the fish
  14. dip — to sink
  15. jam — in traffic
  16. jam — to spread on bread
  17. ruler — for measuring
  18. bank — for money
  19. staff — employees
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. lash — a whip stroke
  22. staff — employees
  23. lash — an eyelash
  24. staff — a stick

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