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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 ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  3. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  6. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  9. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  10. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  11. Is it ________________ for us to be here?
  12. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  13. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  14. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  15. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. Tom was very happy that his son returned home ________________ and sound.
  18. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  19. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  20. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  21. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  22. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  23. He has no idea where the ________________ is.
  24. I can't ________________ this cold.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. track — a path
  3. pitcher — a jug
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. track — a song
  6. chair — to sit on
  7. bank — for money
  8. stand — for spectators
  9. chair — a professorship
  10. chest — a box
  11. safe — out of danger
  12. chest — of your body
  13. lash — an eyelash
  14. track — to keep track
  15. pitcher — a jug
  16. bank — of a river
  17. safe — out of danger
  18. chair — a leader
  19. stand — on your feet
  20. chest — of your body
  21. lash — to lash out
  22. lash — a whip stroke
  23. safe — a strongbox
  24. stand — to bear

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