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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  3. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  4. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  7. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  8. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  9. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  10. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  13. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  14. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  15. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  18. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  19. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  20. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  21. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  22. I'll be taking the ________________.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pass — to spend time
  3. net — for catching
  4. pass — a permit
  5. bank — of a river
  6. ruler — a monarch
  7. ruler — for measuring
  8. mine — an explosive
  9. ruler — for measuring
  10. straw — a straw man
  11. bank — for money
  12. mine — for digging
  13. staff — employees
  14. pass — to succeed
  15. staff — a stick
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. staff — employees
  18. net — after costs
  19. tube — in a tire
  20. straw — to clutch at straws
  21. straw — dry grass
  22. tube — the underground
  23. net — in sport
  24. tube — a container

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