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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. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  4. When will it ________________ you to start?
  5. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  6. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. That must've been a ________________.
  14. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  18. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  21. I've got to change the light ________________.
  22. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  23. The light ________________ burned out.
  24. You shouldn't ________________ things.

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

Answer key

  1. hand — help
  2. bank — of a river
  3. hide — animal skin
  4. suit — to fit
  5. hand — part of the body
  6. net — in sport
  7. bank — for money
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. suit — clothes
  11. net — after costs
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. rush — a thrill
  14. suit — in cards
  15. bank — for money
  16. net — for catching
  17. rush — hurry
  18. bulb — of a plant
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. fan — a supporter
  21. bulb — for light
  22. hand — in cards
  23. bulb — for light
  24. rush — to hurry

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