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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 120 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 help me carry this box?
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  6. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  7. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  8. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  12. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.
  18. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  19. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  20. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. can — to be able to
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. mark — a grade
  4. bank — for money
  5. squash — the vegetable
  6. squash — to crush
  7. squash — the sport
  8. stem — of a plant
  9. stand — to bear
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. mark — a trace
  12. saw — past of 'see'
  13. saw — the tool
  14. can — a tin
  15. bass — the instrument
  16. bank — for money
  17. stem — a stem cell
  18. can — a tin
  19. stem — to come from
  20. bass — low music
  21. bank — of a river
  22. bass — the fish
  23. saw — the tool
  24. stand — for spectators

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