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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. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  2. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  8. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  9. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  12. That must've been a ________________.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  19. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  20. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.

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

Answer key

  1. scale — size or range
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. board — to get on
  4. dip — to dunk
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. bank — of a river
  7. lean — to bend
  8. hide — animal skin
  9. lean — to rest against
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. dip — a sauce
  12. rush — a thrill
  13. bank — for money
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. bank — for money
  16. rush — hurry
  17. can — a tin
  18. dip — to sink
  19. scale — in music
  20. lean — thin
  21. board — a committee
  22. can — to be able to
  23. can — a tin
  24. scale — for weighing

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