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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 was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  3. Have you met the new head ________________?
  4. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  5. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  6. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  7. The King held a masked ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  10. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  17. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  20. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  21. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  22. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  23. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. ball — a great time
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. coach — a trainer
  5. rest — a break
  6. mouse — the animal
  7. ball — a dance
  8. rest — what's left
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. mark — a grade
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. rest — what's left
  13. bank — of a river
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. hide — to keep secret
  17. mark — to pay attention
  18. bank — for money
  19. pitcher — a jug
  20. pitcher — a jug
  21. mark — a trace
  22. hide — animal skin
  23. mouse — for a computer
  24. mouse — the animal

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