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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. The water is too ________________.
  7. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  13. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  14. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  15. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?
  16. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  21. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  22. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. bank — for money
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bulb — for light
  6. cold — not warm
  7. cap — of ice
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. bank — for money
  10. pit — a hole
  11. mug — to rob
  12. jam — a tight spot
  13. pit — in a race
  14. cold — the Cold War
  15. cap — a lid
  16. cold — an illness
  17. bulb — for light
  18. mug — a face
  19. rush — hurry
  20. mug — a cup
  21. cap — a hat
  22. jam — to spread on bread
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. pit — a fruit stone

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