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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. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  4. He works in a ________________ mill.
  5. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  6. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  7. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  8. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  9. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  10. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  11. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  12. She's very handy with a ________________.
  13. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  14. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  17. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  18. Have you met the new head ________________?
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  21. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  22. My father caught me by the ________________.
  23. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  24. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.

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

Answer key

  1. coach — a trainer
  2. bank — for money
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. saw — the tool
  5. bass — the fish
  6. bass — the instrument
  7. patient — a sick person
  8. current — of water
  9. patient — calm and waiting
  10. current — happening now
  11. coach — pulled by horses
  12. saw — the tool
  13. bass — low music
  14. jam — in traffic
  15. bank — for money
  16. patient — a sick person
  17. jam — to spread on bread
  18. coach — a trainer
  19. bank — of a river
  20. jam — a tight spot
  21. saw — past of 'see'
  22. arm — part of the body
  23. current — electric
  24. arm — a part of something

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