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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. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  2. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  8. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. He works in a ________________ mill.
  13. She's very handy with a ________________.
  14. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  17. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  18. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  19. Don't do anything ________________.
  20. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I seem to be developing a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — a series
  2. track — to keep track
  3. board — to get on
  4. ball — a round shape
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — to handle
  7. deal — an agreement
  8. ball — a great time
  9. bank — for money
  10. bank — of a river
  11. ball — a dance
  12. saw — the tool
  13. saw — the tool
  14. board — a flat piece
  15. fall — to drop
  16. saw — past of 'see'
  17. track — a song
  18. fall — the season
  19. rash — hasty
  20. track — a path
  21. board — a committee
  22. fall — to drop
  23. bank — for money
  24. rash — on the skin

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