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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  3. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  4. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  5. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  6. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  10. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  11. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  12. The ________________ of 'teacher' is 'teach'.
  13. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  14. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  15. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  16. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  17. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  18. I can't ________________ this cold.
  19. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  20. We need to address the ________________ of the problem.
  21. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  22. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  23. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  24. The ________________ of a dandelion is edible, too.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. chip — for betting
  3. stand — for spectators
  4. bank — of a river
  5. stand — on your feet
  6. rash — on the skin
  7. suit — to fit
  8. rash — hasty
  9. rash — a series
  10. can — to be able to
  11. chip — to eat
  12. root — of a word
  13. wind — to turn a key
  14. can — a tin
  15. bank — for money
  16. suit — clothes
  17. chip — in a computer
  18. stand — to bear
  19. suit — in cards
  20. root — the cause
  21. wind — moving air
  22. wind — moving air
  23. can — a tin
  24. root — of a plant

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