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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 120 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. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  3. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  4. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. He is an ace ________________.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  11. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  19. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  20. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  21. When will it ________________ you to start?
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. pitcher — a jug
  3. stick — a piece of wood
  4. bark — to shout
  5. current — happening now
  6. pitcher — in baseball
  7. suit — in cards
  8. stick — to attach or keep to
  9. bank — for money
  10. file — a document
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. bank — for money
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. current — of water
  16. file — a line of people
  17. current — electric
  18. calf — a young animal
  19. bark — of a tree
  20. file — a tool
  21. suit — to fit
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. suit — clothes
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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