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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 116 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. A valuable ________________ decreases in value if it is damaged.
  2. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  3. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  4. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  5. The ________________ went through the wall.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  11. Where did you ________________ them?
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  14. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  15. Thanks to his efforts, he attained his ________________.
  16. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  17. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  18. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  19. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  20. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  21. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  22. That was a fun ________________.
  23. Why would I ________________ to a disabled ramp?
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. object — a thing
  2. mug — a face
  3. mouse — for a computer
  4. bear — the animal
  5. nail — for a hammer
  6. mug — a cup
  7. bank — for money
  8. can — a tin
  9. bank — for money
  10. game — a kind of play
  11. mug — to rob
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. can — to be able to
  14. mouse — the animal
  15. object — an aim
  16. nail — on a finger
  17. can — a tin
  18. bear — to put up with
  19. bear — the animal
  20. game — wild animals
  21. nail — for a hammer
  22. game — a match
  23. object — to protest
  24. bank — of a river

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