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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. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  4. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  5. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  13. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  14. You don't need to ________________ round.
  15. That was ________________ to happen.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  18. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  19. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  20. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  21. We're almost out of ________________.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. That must've been a ________________.
  24. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.

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

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bound — obliged
  4. trunk — of a car
  5. hide — to keep secret
  6. lean — thin
  7. bank — for money
  8. rush — to hurry
  9. rush — hurry
  10. lean — to bend
  11. bank — for money
  12. lean — to rest against
  13. hide — to keep secret
  14. pop — to visit
  15. bound — certain
  16. bound — tied together
  17. hide — animal skin
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. trunk — of an elephant
  20. arm — a part of something
  21. pop — soda
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. rush — a thrill
  24. trunk — of a tree

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