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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. It's one o'clock ________________.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  7. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  8. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  9. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  10. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  13. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  14. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  15. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  16. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  17. Don't do anything ________________.
  18. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  19. The King held a masked ________________.
  20. He is an ace ________________.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  23. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  24. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bore — gave birth
  3. bank — of a river
  4. sharp — exactly
  5. bank — for money
  6. can — a tin
  7. rash — on the skin
  8. rest — what's left
  9. sharp — clever
  10. pitcher — a jug
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. can — to be able to
  13. rest — what's left
  14. ball — a round shape
  15. rest — a break
  16. ball — a great time
  17. rash — hasty
  18. bore — to drill
  19. ball — a dance
  20. pitcher — in baseball
  21. rash — a series
  22. bank — for money
  23. sharp — with an edge
  24. bore — to tire

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