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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. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  2. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  3. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  6. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  12. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  13. The tickets are free of ________________.
  14. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  15. He works in a ________________ mill.
  16. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  17. She's very handy with a ________________.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  20. My mare is ________________ in color.
  21. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  22. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. The ________________ went through the wall.

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

Answer key

  1. nail — on a finger
  2. bay — to keep at bay
  3. nail — for a hammer
  4. bank — for money
  5. deal — a big deal
  6. deal — to handle
  7. bank — for money
  8. rock — music
  9. chair — to sit on
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bay — a part of the sea
  12. chair — a leader
  13. charge — a price
  14. rock — a stone
  15. saw — the tool
  16. deal — an agreement
  17. saw — the tool
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. chair — a professorship
  20. bay — a horse colour
  21. charge — in control
  22. charge — electricity
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. nail — for a hammer

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