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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  3. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  4. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  8. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  9. I can't ________________ this cold.
  10. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  15. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. Where did you ________________ them?
  19. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  20. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  21. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  22. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  23. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  24. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. drill — army training
  3. hand — part of the body
  4. mug — a face
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. bank — of a river
  7. hand — in cards
  8. drill — the tool
  9. stand — to bear
  10. drill — a practice
  11. bass — low music
  12. firm — a company
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. stand — for spectators
  15. firm — decided
  16. bank — for money
  17. bank — for money
  18. mug — to rob
  19. bass — the instrument
  20. bass — the fish
  21. rush — hurry
  22. mug — a cup
  23. rush — to hurry
  24. firm — steady

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