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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 116 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. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  6. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  7. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  8. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  16. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  17. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  18. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  21. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  22. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — a face
  2. bank — for money
  3. prune — to trim
  4. bank — for money
  5. mug — a cup
  6. march — the month
  7. staff — a stick
  8. mine — for digging
  9. bank — of a river
  10. staff — employees
  11. mug — to rob
  12. rock — a stone
  13. can — a tin
  14. can — to be able to
  15. rock — music
  16. mine — belonging to me
  17. prune — to trim
  18. march — music
  19. staff — employees
  20. rock — to move gently
  21. prune — the fruit
  22. mine — an explosive
  23. can — a tin
  24. march — the month

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