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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 office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  2. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  3. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  4. My mare is ________________ in color.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  7. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  8. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  9. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  10. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  11. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  12. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  16. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  17. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  18. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  24. How do you ________________ your surname?

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. kick — with a leg
  3. spell — a short time
  4. bay — a horse colour
  5. bank — for money
  6. mark — a trace
  7. rock — music
  8. branch — of a bank
  9. staff — a stick
  10. kick — in football
  11. branch — a division
  12. bay — to keep at bay
  13. mark — a grade
  14. bank — for money
  15. spell — magic
  16. rock — to move gently
  17. kick — a thrill
  18. bay — a part of the sea
  19. staff — employees
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rock — a stone
  23. branch — of a tree
  24. spell — letters

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