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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. Later, his shop becomes a ________________ with young dancers.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. My rich neighbors belong to a private golf ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  10. I belonged to the harmonica ________________ in my high school days.
  11. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  14. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  15. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  23. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  24. The ball hit the back of the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. club — for dancing
  2. bank — of a river
  3. club — for golf
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. current — happening now
  6. bear — the animal
  7. current — of water
  8. bank — for money
  9. bowl — to roll
  10. club — a group
  11. staff — employees
  12. bank — for money
  13. net — after costs
  14. bear — the animal
  15. current — electric
  16. rock — a stone
  17. bowl — a football final
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. staff — a stick
  20. staff — employees
  21. rock — music
  22. rock — to move gently
  23. net — for catching
  24. net — in sport

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