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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. The coach helped Matthew straighten out his golf ________________, improving his game.
  2. In jazz, ________________ was gradually being replaced by bebop.
  3. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  7. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  10. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  13. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  14. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. David sat on the ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  23. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  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. swing — in golf
  2. swing — music
  3. fine — a penalty
  4. bear — the animal
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. prune — to trim
  7. fine — all right
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. prune — the fruit
  10. prune — to trim
  11. can — a tin
  12. fine — high quality
  13. stand — for spectators
  14. root — of a plant
  15. stand — to bear
  16. bank — for money
  17. can — to be able to
  18. can — a tin
  19. swing — to play on
  20. root — the cause
  21. bank — for money
  22. bear — the animal
  23. root — of a word
  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