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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  3. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  4. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  5. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  6. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  7. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. That was ________________ to happen.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  12. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  15. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  18. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  19. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  20. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  23. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  24. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. perch — for a bird
  3. perch — for a bird
  4. root — of a plant
  5. pit — a hole
  6. bound — tied together
  7. root — the cause
  8. rash — hasty
  9. bound — certain
  10. track — to keep track
  11. bound — obliged
  12. rash — a series
  13. bear — the animal
  14. track — a song
  15. bear — to put up with
  16. pit — in a race
  17. track — a path
  18. bank — for money
  19. pit — a fruit stone
  20. rash — on the skin
  21. bank — of a river
  22. root — of a word
  23. bear — the animal
  24. perch — the fish

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