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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 116 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'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  14. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  17. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  18. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  19. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  20. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  21. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. stand — on your feet
  5. current — happening now
  6. bank — for money
  7. track — a path
  8. wake — a trail
  9. bound — certain
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bank — of a river
  12. stand — to bear
  13. current — of water
  14. wake — before a funeral
  15. rock — a stone
  16. wave — with your hand
  17. bound — obliged
  18. bound — tied together
  19. wave — of the sea
  20. current — electric
  21. track — a song
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. rock — music
  24. wave — a sudden rise

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