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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. You don't need to ________________ round.
  3. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  7. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  10. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  11. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  16. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. My father caught me by the ________________.
  21. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  24. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pop — to visit
  3. track — to keep track
  4. bank — for money
  5. board — a committee
  6. track — a song
  7. track — a path
  8. pop — soda
  9. charge — in control
  10. face — part of the head
  11. can — to be able to
  12. can — a tin
  13. arm — part of the body
  14. bank — of a river
  15. can — a tin
  16. board — to get on
  17. charge — electricity
  18. board — a flat piece
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. arm — part of the body
  21. face — to confront
  22. charge — a price
  23. face — to point toward
  24. pop — music

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