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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  3. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  6. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  7. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  8. Have you met the new head ________________?
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  12. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  13. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  14. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  15. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  18. Don't do anything ________________.
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  23. It's one o'clock ________________.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. lie — an untruth
  3. coach — pulled by horses
  4. current — of water
  5. board — to get on
  6. hide — animal skin
  7. lie — to recline
  8. coach — a trainer
  9. bank — for money
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. board — a flat piece
  12. sharp — clever
  13. rash — on the skin
  14. hide — to keep secret
  15. coach — a trainer
  16. bank — for money
  17. current — electric
  18. rash — hasty
  19. current — happening now
  20. board — a committee
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. lie — an untruth
  23. sharp — exactly
  24. rash — a series

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