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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. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  2. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  5. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  9. When was this ________________ built?
  10. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  11. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  12. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  13. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  14. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  15. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  16. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  17. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  20. What do you think of the new ________________?
  21. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  22. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  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. mouse — the animal
  2. jam — to spread on bread
  3. bank — of a river
  4. rush — hurry
  5. jam — in traffic
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. bank — for money
  8. patient — a sick person
  9. temple — a place of worship
  10. temple — a place of worship
  11. straw — dry grass
  12. patient — calm and waiting
  13. mouse — the animal
  14. mouse — for a computer
  15. cabinet — a cupboard
  16. temple — side of the head
  17. straw — a straw man
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. patient — a sick person
  20. cabinet — ministers
  21. rush — to hurry
  22. jam — a tight spot
  23. rush — a thrill
  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