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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. He works in a ________________ mill.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  5. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  6. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  11. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  12. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  13. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  14. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  15. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  16. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  17. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  24. She's very handy with a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. saw — past of 'see'
  2. saw — the tool
  3. bank — for money
  4. nail — on a finger
  5. deal — an agreement
  6. deal — a big deal
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. lie — to recline
  11. pitcher — a jug
  12. pound — a weight
  13. lie — an untruth
  14. pound — to hit hard
  15. lie — an untruth
  16. deal — to handle
  17. bank — of a river
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. band — a ring
  20. bank — for money
  21. band — a rubber band
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. band — a music group
  24. saw — the tool

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