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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  3. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  4. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  7. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  8. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  9. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  10. Where did you ________________ them?
  11. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  12. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  15. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  18. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  19. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  20. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  21. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  22. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. trunk — of a car
  3. track — a path
  4. trunk — of a tree
  5. bank — of a river
  6. mug — a cup
  7. track — a song
  8. fine — a penalty
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. mug — to rob
  11. trunk — of an elephant
  12. bank — for money
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. kick — with a leg
  15. fan — to cool the air
  16. bank — for money
  17. fan — a supporter
  18. patient — calm and waiting
  19. track — to keep track
  20. patient — a sick person
  21. mug — a face
  22. fine — all right
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. kick — in football

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