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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. You don't need to ________________ round.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  4. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  5. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. I'll be taking the ________________.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  12. I can't ________________ this cold.
  13. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  14. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  15. My father caught me by the ________________.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  18. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  19. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  20. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  21. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  22. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  23. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — to visit
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. pop — music
  4. tube — a container
  5. bank — for money
  6. rock — music
  7. tube — the underground
  8. pop — soda
  9. stand — for spectators
  10. charge — a price
  11. lean — to rest against
  12. stand — to bear
  13. lean — to bend
  14. bank — of a river
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. rock — a stone
  17. stand — on your feet
  18. rock — to move gently
  19. charge — electricity
  20. charge — in control
  21. lean — thin
  22. tube — in a tire
  23. arm — part of the body
  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