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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. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  2. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  5. Atomic bombs are a danger to the human ________________.
  6. We ________________ up on opposing sides.
  7. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  8. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  9. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  10. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  11. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  12. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. My mare is ________________ in color.
  15. It's not a deep ________________. It's just a scratch.
  16. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  17. Only by prohibiting all nuclear weapons, we can together stop the arms ________________.
  18. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  19. This looks like a gunshot ________________.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  22. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  23. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  24. Winning one ________________ isn't the same as dominating a sport.

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

Answer key

  1. bay — to keep at bay
  2. bank — for money
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bay — a part of the sea
  5. race — humankind
  6. wound — past of 'wind'
  7. branch — of a tree
  8. leaves — of a tree
  9. chip — to eat
  10. chip — in a computer
  11. current — of water
  12. branch — a division
  13. current — electric
  14. bay — a horse colour
  15. wound — an injury
  16. bank — for money
  17. race — the arms race
  18. branch — of a bank
  19. wound — an injury
  20. current — happening now
  21. chip — for betting
  22. bank — of a river
  23. leaves — to go away
  24. race — a contest

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