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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. That must've been a ________________.
  2. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  6. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  7. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  8. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  9. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  10. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  11. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  12. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  13. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  14. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  17. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  18. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The tickets are free of ________________.
  23. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — a thrill
  2. wake — to stop sleeping
  3. bank — for money
  4. bank — for money
  5. charge — electricity
  6. wake — a trail
  7. rock — a stone
  8. pound — for dogs
  9. pound — to hit hard
  10. charge — in control
  11. rock — music
  12. prune — the fruit
  13. prune — to trim
  14. mark — to pay attention
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. mark — a grade
  17. mark — a trace
  18. rush — to hurry
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. bank — of a river
  22. charge — a price
  23. pound — a weight
  24. prune — to trim

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