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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  15. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  19. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  20. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  21. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  22. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  23. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. rash — on the skin
  4. bank — for money
  5. prune — to trim
  6. prune — to trim
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. rash — a series
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. current — happening now
  11. current — of water
  12. current — electric
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — a tin
  15. wave — of the sea
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. rash — hasty
  18. can — to be able to
  19. branch — a division
  20. prune — the fruit
  21. branch — of a tree
  22. wave — a sudden rise
  23. wave — with your hand
  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