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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 120 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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  6. The ________________ went through the wall.
  7. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  10. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. The King held a masked ________________.
  15. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  16. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  17. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  18. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  19. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  20. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  21. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. Don't do anything ________________.
  24. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. bank — of a river
  3. firm — decided
  4. hand — help
  5. trunk — of a car
  6. nail — for a hammer
  7. trunk — of a tree
  8. bank — for money
  9. hand — part of the body
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. bank — for money
  13. charge — a price
  14. ball — a dance
  15. rash — on the skin
  16. firm — a company
  17. charge — electricity
  18. ball — a round shape
  19. nail — on a finger
  20. ball — a great time
  21. firm — steady
  22. hand — in cards
  23. rash — hasty
  24. charge — in control

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