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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. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  2. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. We're on a ________________ here.
  5. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.
  6. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  7. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  8. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  9. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  10. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  13. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  17. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  18. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  19. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  20. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  21. I can't ________________ this cold.
  22. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  23. How do you ________________ your surname?
  24. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.

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

Answer key

  1. stand — for spectators
  2. wind — to turn a key
  3. bank — for money
  4. roll — on a roll
  5. bark — a dog's sound
  6. bark — to shout
  7. spell — a short time
  8. staff — a stick
  9. staff — employees
  10. roll — a list
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. wind — moving air
  13. wind — moving air
  14. bank — of a river
  15. bank — for money
  16. bark — of a tree
  17. rock — music
  18. roll — a cake
  19. spell — magic
  20. rock — a stone
  21. stand — to bear
  22. stand — on your feet
  23. spell — letters
  24. staff — employees

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