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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. She's very handy with a ________________.
  2. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  3. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The tickets are free of ________________.
  10. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  11. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  12. Have you met the new head ________________?
  13. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  14. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  15. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  16. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  20. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  21. Where did you ________________ them?
  22. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  23. He works in a ________________ mill.
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — the tool
  2. scale — for weighing
  3. coach — a trainer
  4. bank — for money
  5. saw — past of 'see'
  6. bank — for money
  7. mug — a face
  8. bank — of a river
  9. charge — a price
  10. scale — size or range
  11. charge — in control
  12. coach — a trainer
  13. can — a tin
  14. bear — to put up with
  15. scale — in music
  16. bear — the animal
  17. can — to be able to
  18. mug — a cup
  19. can — a tin
  20. charge — electricity
  21. mug — to rob
  22. coach — pulled by horses
  23. saw — the tool
  24. bear — the animal

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