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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. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. What do you think of the new ________________?
  13. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  14. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  24. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a cup
  2. hand — help
  3. leaves — of a tree
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bank — for money
  7. net — for catching
  8. bank — of a river
  9. roll — a list
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. bank — for money
  12. cabinet — ministers
  13. hand — in cards
  14. leaves — lets stay
  15. net — in sport
  16. roll — a cake
  17. rule — a law
  18. hand — part of the body
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. mug — to rob
  22. mug — a face
  23. net — after costs
  24. rule — government

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