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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  7. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  8. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  11. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  18. Have you found your soul ________________?
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. bank — of a river
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. lie — to recline
  5. current — happening now
  6. bass — low music
  7. fine — a penalty
  8. mate — to breed
  9. bank — for money
  10. current — electric
  11. mate — a friend
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. bear — the animal
  14. current — of water
  15. bank — for money
  16. bass — the fish
  17. bear — the animal
  18. mate — a partner
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. rock — a stone
  21. lie — an untruth
  22. fine — all right
  23. rock — music
  24. bear — to put up with

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