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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  4. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  5. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  6. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  7. In the ________________, covers are put over the fans in trains.
  8. What do you think of the new ________________?
  9. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. This piece is in a major ________________.
  15. He who climbs up, will ________________ down.
  16. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  17. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  18. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. I've got to change the light ________________.
  21. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  22. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  23. Have you found your soul ________________?
  24. My stomach aches so much that I can't ________________ asleep.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bank — for money
  3. cabinet — a cupboard
  4. mate — a friend
  5. rock — a stone
  6. cabinet — ministers
  7. fall — the season
  8. cabinet — ministers
  9. rest — a break
  10. rock — music
  11. mate — to breed
  12. bulb — for light
  13. bank — of a river
  14. key — in music
  15. fall — to drop
  16. key — the most important part
  17. bulb — of a plant
  18. rest — what's left
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. bulb — for light
  21. rest — what's left
  22. key — for a lock
  23. mate — a partner
  24. fall — to drop

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