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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. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  3. He works in a ________________ mill.
  4. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  7. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  10. That must've been a ________________.
  11. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  14. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  15. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  16. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  17. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  18. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  19. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  20. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  21. We're on a ________________ here.
  22. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  23. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  24. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. pass — a permit
  3. saw — the tool
  4. bank — for money
  5. scale — in music
  6. foot — part of the body
  7. foot — a measure
  8. bank — of a river
  9. pitch — a sports field
  10. rush — a thrill
  11. rush — to hurry
  12. saw — the tool
  13. pass — to succeed
  14. saw — past of 'see'
  15. foot — the bottom
  16. rush — hurry
  17. scale — size or range
  18. pass — to spend time
  19. pitch — a sales talk
  20. roll — a list
  21. roll — on a roll
  22. scale — for weighing
  23. pitch — completely
  24. roll — a cake

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