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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  5. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  6. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  7. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  8. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  9. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  10. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  11. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  12. My partner was ________________ at the birth of our baby.
  13. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  14. Actually, the ________________ method has plenty of room for improvement.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Did you get a birthday ________________ for him this year?
  17. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  20. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  21. He was locked up in a ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bass — the fish
  3. bank — for money
  4. can — to be able to
  5. can — a tin
  6. mark — a grade
  7. trunk — of a car
  8. mark — a trace
  9. cell — in biology
  10. bass — the instrument
  11. bass — low music
  12. present — there
  13. trunk — of an elephant
  14. present — the time now
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. present — a gift
  17. cell — a phone
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. arm — a part of something
  20. trunk — of a tree
  21. cell — in a prison
  22. bank — for money
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. can — a tin

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