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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. When will it ________________ you to start?
  3. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  4. Did you ________________ the button?
  5. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  6. The King held a masked ________________.
  7. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  8. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  9. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  10. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  11. When are we going to ________________?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. The polar ice ________________ is melting.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  16. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  17. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  18. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  19. It's best to wear a ________________ on your head during the cold Moscow winters.
  20. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.
  21. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  22. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  23. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  24. Can you put the ________________ back on the pen?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. suit — to fit
  3. press — newspapers
  4. press — to push
  5. hand — help
  6. ball — a dance
  7. land — a country
  8. hand — part of the body
  9. root — the cause
  10. hand — in cards
  11. land — to come down
  12. bank — for money
  13. cap — of ice
  14. bank — for money
  15. land — ground
  16. root — of a word
  17. ball — a great time
  18. press — a publisher
  19. cap — a hat
  20. root — of a plant
  21. ball — a round shape
  22. suit — in cards
  23. suit — clothes
  24. cap — a lid

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