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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  7. He is an ace ________________.
  8. I've got to change the light ________________.
  9. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  10. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  11. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  12. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  13. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  14. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  15. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  16. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  19. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  20. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  21. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  22. The light ________________ burned out.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. hide — animal skin
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. bank — of a river
  6. pitcher — a jug
  7. pitcher — in baseball
  8. bulb — for light
  9. wound — past of 'wind'
  10. snap — to click
  11. hide — to keep secret
  12. wound — an injury
  13. snap — to speak sharply
  14. fine — a penalty
  15. bulb — of a plant
  16. fine — all right
  17. bank — for money
  18. rock — a stone
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. wound — an injury
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. bulb — for light
  23. rock — music
  24. fine — high quality

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