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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. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  3. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  4. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  7. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  8. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  9. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  15. Did you ________________ the meat?
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  19. He is an ace ________________.
  20. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  23. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. lash — a whip stroke
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. can — a tin
  5. bank — for money
  6. jam — to spread on bread
  7. pit — in a race
  8. pit — a fruit stone
  9. season — in sport
  10. bank — for money
  11. ball — a great time
  12. can — to be able to
  13. season — of the year
  14. lash — an eyelash
  15. season — to add flavour
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. ball — a dance
  18. lash — to lash out
  19. pitcher — in baseball
  20. jam — in traffic
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. pit — a hole
  23. ball — a round shape
  24. can — a tin

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