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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. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  2. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  8. She's very handy with a ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I'll be taking the ________________.
  13. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. The tickets are free of ________________.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  20. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  23. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  24. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. charge — in control
  3. bank — for money
  4. jam — in traffic
  5. bank — of a river
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. charge — electricity
  8. saw — the tool
  9. bank — for money
  10. tube — a container
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. tube — the underground
  13. jam — a tight spot
  14. wound — an injury
  15. charge — a price
  16. saw — the tool
  17. wound — an injury
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. trunk — of a tree
  20. kick — a thrill
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. trunk — of a car
  23. kick — in football
  24. tube — in a 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