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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. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. What do you think of the new ________________?
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  8. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  9. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  10. When will it ________________ you to start?
  11. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  12. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  13. Did you ________________ the button?
  14. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  15. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  16. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  17. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  20. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  21. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  22. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  23. The King held a masked ________________.
  24. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.

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

Answer key

  1. fork — a garden tool
  2. bank — for money
  3. fork — to eat with
  4. bank — of a river
  5. cabinet — ministers
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. suit — clothes
  8. press — a publisher
  9. press — newspapers
  10. suit — to fit
  11. dip — to sink
  12. fork — in a road
  13. press — to push
  14. rush — hurry
  15. ball — a great time
  16. ball — a round shape
  17. cabinet — a cupboard
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. bank — for money
  20. suit — in cards
  21. cabinet — ministers
  22. dip — to dunk
  23. ball — a dance
  24. dip — a sauce

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