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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. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  16. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  17. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  18. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  19. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  20. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  21. Did you ________________ the button?
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  24. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.

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

Answer key

  1. mine — belonging to me
  2. bank — for money
  3. mine — an explosive
  4. bank — of a river
  5. press — a publisher
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. current — of water
  10. rush — to hurry
  11. rush — hurry
  12. mine — for digging
  13. current — happening now
  14. bank — for money
  15. hide — to keep secret
  16. shower — rain
  17. shower — a meteor shower
  18. press — newspapers
  19. shower — to wash
  20. firm — a company
  21. press — to push
  22. current — electric
  23. firm — steady
  24. firm — decided

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