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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. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  2. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  5. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  6. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  7. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  8. How do you ________________ your surname?
  9. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  15. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  16. He asked the witch to reverse the ________________.
  17. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  18. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  19. We've had a long dry ________________ this summer.
  20. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  21. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  22. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  23. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  24. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.

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

Answer key

  1. straw — a straw man
  2. current — happening now
  3. bank — of a river
  4. bore — to drill
  5. prune — to trim
  6. straw — to clutch at straws
  7. prune — the fruit
  8. spell — letters
  9. fan — a supporter
  10. current — of water
  11. bore — to tire
  12. bank — for money
  13. current — electric
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. lean — thin
  16. spell — magic
  17. fan — to cool the air
  18. lean — to bend
  19. spell — a short time
  20. prune — to trim
  21. bore — gave birth
  22. lean — to rest against
  23. straw — dry grass
  24. bank — for money

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