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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 newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  2. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  3. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  4. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  9. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  10. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  11. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  14. Did you ________________ the meat?
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  17. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. That must've been a ________________.
  21. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  22. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  23. Where did you ________________ them?
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. foot — the bottom
  2. bark — to shout
  3. season — in sport
  4. band — a music group
  5. bank — of a river
  6. band — a rubber band
  7. mug — a face
  8. band — a ring
  9. bark — a dog's sound
  10. season — of the year
  11. calf — a young animal
  12. mug — a cup
  13. foot — a measure
  14. season — to add flavour
  15. bank — for money
  16. calf — a young animal
  17. bark — of a tree
  18. rush — hurry
  19. bank — for money
  20. rush — a thrill
  21. calf — of the leg
  22. foot — part of the body
  23. mug — to rob
  24. rush — to hurry

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