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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. Have you met the new head ________________?
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  9. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  12. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  13. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  14. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  15. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  19. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  20. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  21. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  22. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. track — a path
  3. fan — to cool the air
  4. bank — for money
  5. can — a tin
  6. bank — of a river
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. track — a song
  9. track — to keep track
  10. can — to be able to
  11. can — a tin
  12. dip — to dunk
  13. fan — a supporter
  14. coach — pulled by horses
  15. dip — a sauce
  16. net — for catching
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. lie — to recline
  19. lie — an untruth
  20. net — after costs
  21. net — in sport
  22. dip — to sink
  23. bank — for money
  24. lie — an untruth

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