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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  6. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  7. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  8. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  9. When will it ________________ you to start?
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  12. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  13. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  14. Have you settled on a ________________?
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. A ________________ is a sweet brown fruit from a palm tree.
  17. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  18. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. Why do cosmetics have an expiration ________________?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. bank — for money
  3. track — a path
  4. mug — a face
  5. march — the month
  6. rush — to hurry
  7. track — to keep track
  8. mug — a cup
  9. suit — to fit
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. suit — in cards
  12. march — the month
  13. chip — to eat
  14. date — on the calendar
  15. rush — hurry
  16. date — the fruit
  17. march — music
  18. track — a song
  19. bank — for money
  20. chip — for betting
  21. bank — of a river
  22. suit — clothes
  23. date — on the calendar
  24. rush — a thrill

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