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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  3. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  9. He works in a ________________ mill.
  10. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. That was ________________ to happen.
  13. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  14. Don't do anything ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  20. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  21. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  22. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  23. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. dip — to dunk
  3. present — a gift
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bank — of a river
  6. pass — to succeed
  7. can — a tin
  8. present — the time now
  9. saw — the tool
  10. dip — a sauce
  11. bound — obliged
  12. bound — certain
  13. present — there
  14. rash — hasty
  15. can — a tin
  16. rash — a series
  17. saw — the tool
  18. bank — for money
  19. can — to be able to
  20. bound — tied together
  21. rash — on the skin
  22. pass — to spend time
  23. dip — to sink
  24. bank — for money

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