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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 124 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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  4. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  5. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  8. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  9. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  10. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  11. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  12. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  13. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  14. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  15. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  16. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  17. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  18. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  19. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  20. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  21. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — of a river
  3. present — the time now
  4. present — a gift
  5. toast — a drink to someone
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. present — there
  8. perch — the fish
  9. hide — to keep secret
  10. fine — all right
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. hide — animal skin
  13. staff — employees
  14. perch — for a bird
  15. fine — high quality
  16. staff — a stick
  17. row — a line
  18. toast — the most admired
  19. perch — for a bird
  20. row — to paddle
  21. staff — employees
  22. toast — bread
  23. fine — a penalty
  24. bank — for money

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