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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 120 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. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  9. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  10. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  11. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  12. Have you found your soul ________________?
  13. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  14. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  15. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  16. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  17. The light ________________ burned out.
  18. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  23. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. chip — for betting
  2. bank — for money
  3. perch — the fish
  4. mate — a friend
  5. bass — the fish
  6. mate — to breed
  7. bulb — for light
  8. bass — low music
  9. chip — in a computer
  10. perch — for a bird
  11. band — a music group
  12. mate — a partner
  13. band — a rubber band
  14. band — a ring
  15. calf — a young animal
  16. chip — to eat
  17. bulb — for light
  18. perch — for a bird
  19. bank — of a river
  20. bass — the instrument
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. calf — of the leg
  23. calf — a young animal
  24. bank — for money

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