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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  3. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  4. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  5. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  8. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  22. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. leaves — of a tree
  3. leaves — to go away
  4. bound — tied together
  5. calf — a young animal
  6. rash — hasty
  7. rest — what's left
  8. board — a committee
  9. bank — for money
  10. fan — to cool the air
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. calf — of the leg
  13. rest — what's left
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. bound — certain
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. board — to get on
  18. fan — a supporter
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bound — obliged
  22. rest — a break
  23. bank — for money
  24. bank — of a river

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