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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 don't want to ________________ the boat.
  2. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Did you ________________ the meat?
  5. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  6. We walked down the narrow path in single ________________.
  7. He works in a ________________ mill.
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. The light ________________ burned out.
  10. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  11. She's very handy with a ________________.
  12. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  13. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  14. He rubbed the rust off with a ________________.
  15. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  16. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  17. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. The information is stored in a ________________ on my computer.
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  22. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  23. I've got to change the light ________________.
  24. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. rock — to move gently
  2. saw — past of 'see'
  3. bank — for money
  4. season — to add flavour
  5. squash — the sport
  6. file — a line of people
  7. saw — the tool
  8. bank — for money
  9. bulb — for light
  10. squash — to crush
  11. saw — the tool
  12. rock — music
  13. season — of the year
  14. file — a tool
  15. squash — the vegetable
  16. bulb — of a plant
  17. rock — a stone
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. file — a document
  20. bank — of a river
  21. toast — the most admired
  22. toast — bread
  23. bulb — for light
  24. season — in sport

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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