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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  3. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  4. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  7. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. I've got to change the light ________________.
  13. That was a fun ________________.
  14. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  15. Have you met the new head ________________?
  16. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  17. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  18. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  19. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  20. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  21. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  22. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bulb — of a plant
  3. rock — music
  4. hide — to keep secret
  5. rock — a stone
  6. game — a kind of play
  7. coach — a trainer
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. bulb — for light
  10. coach — pulled by horses
  11. bank — of a river
  12. bulb — for light
  13. game — a match
  14. rock — to move gently
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. rest — what's left
  17. fork — to eat with
  18. hide — animal skin
  19. rest — what's left
  20. fork — in a road
  21. game — wild animals
  22. fork — a garden tool
  23. bank — for money
  24. rest — a break

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