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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. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  2. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  9. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  10. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  11. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  12. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  13. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  14. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  15. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  18. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  19. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  20. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  21. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  22. The King held a masked ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The train ________________ at six o'clock.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — lets stay
  2. firm — decided
  3. bank — of a river
  4. lash — a whip stroke
  5. can — to be able to
  6. firm — a company
  7. bank — for money
  8. can — a tin
  9. mark — a trace
  10. mark — to pay attention
  11. fall — the season
  12. lash — an eyelash
  13. fall — to drop
  14. lash — to lash out
  15. ball — a round shape
  16. mark — a grade
  17. can — a tin
  18. firm — steady
  19. fall — to drop
  20. leaves — of a tree
  21. ball — a great time
  22. ball — a dance
  23. bank — for money
  24. leaves — to go away

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