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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. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  3. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  4. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  7. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  8. We're almost out of ________________.
  9. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  10. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  13. You don't need to ________________ round.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  16. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  17. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  18. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  19. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  20. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  21. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  24. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. board — a flat piece
  3. straw — a straw man
  4. pass — to succeed
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. board — to get on
  7. lean — thin
  8. pop — soda
  9. rush — hurry
  10. pop — music
  11. bank — for money
  12. staff — a stick
  13. pop — to visit
  14. lean — to bend
  15. staff — employees
  16. straw — dry grass
  17. board — a committee
  18. straw — to clutch at straws
  19. bank — for money
  20. rush — to hurry
  21. lean — to rest against
  22. staff — employees
  23. pass — a permit
  24. pass — to spend time

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