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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 116 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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. It's one o'clock ________________.
  4. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  5. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  6. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  9. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  10. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  13. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  14. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  15. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  16. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  17. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  18. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  19. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  20. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  21. The tickets are free of ________________.
  22. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  23. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. sharp — exactly
  4. bowl — a football final
  5. bowl — a dish
  6. bear — the animal
  7. bank — for money
  8. hide — to keep secret
  9. charge — electricity
  10. bear — the animal
  11. bank — for money
  12. wound — past of 'wind'
  13. charge — in control
  14. wound — an injury
  15. wound — an injury
  16. lean — thin
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. sharp — clever
  19. lean — to rest against
  20. lean — to bend
  21. charge — a price
  22. sharp — with an edge
  23. bowl — to roll
  24. hide — animal skin

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