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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  12. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  13. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  14. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  22. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  23. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  24. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. bank — for money
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. chip — in a computer
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. bank — for money
  7. leaves — lets stay
  8. chip — for betting
  9. bank — of a river
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. hand — in cards
  12. staff — employees
  13. face — to point toward
  14. leaves — of a tree
  15. rush — hurry
  16. staff — a stick
  17. chip — to eat
  18. face — part of the head
  19. staff — employees
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. leaves — to go away
  22. hand — help
  23. face — to confront
  24. fan — a supporter

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