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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'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  4. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  5. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  6. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  13. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  14. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  15. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  16. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  17. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  18. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  21. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  22. It's one o'clock ________________.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. foot — the bottom
  5. current — electric
  6. foot — a measure
  7. perch — the fish
  8. sharp — with an edge
  9. sharp — clever
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. current — of water
  12. jam — to spread on bread
  13. dip — to dunk
  14. foot — part of the body
  15. dip — to sink
  16. rest — a break
  17. current — happening now
  18. dip — a sauce
  19. rest — what's left
  20. rest — what's left
  21. jam — a tight spot
  22. sharp — exactly
  23. bank — for money
  24. jam — in traffic

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