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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. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. That must've been a ________________.
  4. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  7. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  8. My father caught me by the ________________.
  9. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  14. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  15. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  16. I've got to change the light ________________.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  21. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  22. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  23. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  24. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. arm — a part of something
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rush — a thrill
  4. rock — music
  5. bank — of a river
  6. scale — for weighing
  7. object — a thing
  8. arm — part of the body
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. scale — in music
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rush — to hurry
  14. scale — size or range
  15. board — a committee
  16. bulb — for light
  17. bank — for money
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. bank — for money
  20. rush — hurry
  21. rock — to move gently
  22. object — to protest
  23. board — to get on
  24. object — an aim

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