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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. I had a bad ________________ and was in bed for a week.
  3. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  4. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  6. Its rival in the ________________ War, the Soviet Union, exploited this at the time.
  7. The tickets are free of ________________.
  8. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The water is too ________________.
  11. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  12. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  13. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  14. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. I've got to change the light ________________.
  18. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  19. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  20. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  21. The light ________________ burned out.
  22. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  23. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. cold — an illness
  3. deal — a big deal
  4. fine — a penalty
  5. object — to protest
  6. cold — the Cold War
  7. charge — a price
  8. bulb — of a plant
  9. charge — electricity
  10. cold — not warm
  11. object — a thing
  12. charge — in control
  13. bear — the animal
  14. deal — an agreement
  15. bank — for money
  16. deal — to handle
  17. bulb — for light
  18. bear — the animal
  19. fine — all right
  20. object — an aim
  21. bulb — for light
  22. bear — to put up with
  23. bank — of a river
  24. fine — high quality

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