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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  8. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  13. How do you ________________ your surname?
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. I've got to change the light ________________.
  16. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  17. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  18. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  19. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  20. I can't ________________ this cold.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  23. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. wave — of the sea
  6. bulb — for light
  7. board — a committee
  8. stand — on your feet
  9. board — to get on
  10. bulb — of a plant
  11. bank — for money
  12. spell — a short time
  13. spell — letters
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. bulb — for light
  16. net — in sport
  17. net — for catching
  18. leaves — to go away
  19. wave — with your hand
  20. stand — to bear
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. net — after costs
  23. spell — magic
  24. bank — of a river

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