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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. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  2. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  3. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  7. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  10. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  11. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  12. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  19. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  20. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  21. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  22. He is an ace ________________.
  23. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — part of the body
  2. hand — help
  3. current — of water
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. bank — for money
  6. board — a flat piece
  7. face — to point toward
  8. bank — of a river
  9. hand — in cards
  10. cabinet — ministers
  11. current — happening now
  12. fan — a supporter
  13. current — electric
  14. board — to get on
  15. bank — for money
  16. fan — a supporter
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. face — part of the head
  19. cabinet — a cupboard
  20. fan — to cool the air
  21. board — a committee
  22. pitcher — in baseball
  23. pitcher — a jug
  24. face — to confront

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