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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  5. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  6. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  9. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  10. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  11. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  12. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  15. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  18. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  24. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rock — a stone
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. ruler — for measuring
  5. fan — a supporter
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. ruler — a monarch
  9. march — the month
  10. ball — a round shape
  11. march — the month
  12. snap — to speak sharply
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. march — music
  15. hand — help
  16. bank — of a river
  17. hand — in cards
  18. rock — music
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. snap — to click
  21. bank — for money
  22. ball — a dance
  23. snap — to snap out of it
  24. ball — a great time

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