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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  7. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  8. We've got to handle this with ________________ gloves.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  11. I can't ________________ this cold.
  12. Don't ________________ yourself. You couldn't afford to buy a house like this.
  13. I had chicken pox when I was a ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. This piece is in a major ________________.
  16. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  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 — of a river
  2. board — a committee
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. bank — for money
  5. can — a tin
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. board — a flat piece
  8. kid — young goat (kid gloves)
  9. bank — for money
  10. can — a tin
  11. stand — to bear
  12. kid — to tease
  13. kid — child
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. key — in music
  16. stand — on your feet
  17. can — to be able to
  18. key — the most important part
  19. rash — a series
  20. board — to get on
  21. rash — hasty
  22. lie — to recline
  23. lie — an untruth
  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