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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  9. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  10. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  11. That must've been a ________________.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  14. Have you met the new head ________________?
  15. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  16. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  17. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  18. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. current — electric
  3. bank — for money
  4. fan — a supporter
  5. bank — for money
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rush — hurry
  8. toast — bread
  9. current — of water
  10. toast — a drink to someone
  11. rush — a thrill
  12. root — of a word
  13. coach — a trainer
  14. coach — a trainer
  15. toast — the most admired
  16. coach — pulled by horses
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. root — the cause
  19. staff — employees
  20. root — of a plant
  21. staff — a stick
  22. current — happening now
  23. fan — to cool the air
  24. staff — employees

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