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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  8. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  9. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  10. False peace will not ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Today is the ________________ day of the holidays. Back to school tomorrow!
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  18. At ________________, we arrived at the village.
  19. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  22. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  23. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  24. That must've been a ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. rush — hurry
  4. bank — of a river
  5. rock — a stone
  6. staff — a stick
  7. rush — to hurry
  8. cue — a hint
  9. rock — to move gently
  10. last — to go on
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. saw — the tool
  13. last — final
  14. staff — employees
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. saw — the tool
  17. cue — for pool
  18. last — finally
  19. staff — employees
  20. bank — for money
  21. fan — to cool the air
  22. cue — a signal
  23. rock — music
  24. rush — a thrill

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