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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 120 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'll be taking the ________________.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. Jeff had to ________________ the pavement for three months before he found a job.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  6. A ________________ is equal to sixteen ounces.
  7. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  8. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  9. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  10. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  11. Have you met the new head ________________?
  12. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  13. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  14. When was this ________________ built?
  15. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  16. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  17. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  18. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  19. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  20. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  21. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  22. Rodrigo's family went to the dog ________________ to adopt a dog.
  23. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  24. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.

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

Answer key

  1. tube — the underground
  2. bank — of a river
  3. pound — to hit hard
  4. bank — for money
  5. board — a committee
  6. pound — a weight
  7. hide — to keep secret
  8. bank — for money
  9. lean — thin
  10. board — a flat piece
  11. coach — a trainer
  12. temple — side of the head
  13. coach — pulled by horses
  14. temple — a place of worship
  15. tube — in a tire
  16. lean — to bend
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. tube — a container
  19. temple — a place of worship
  20. hide — to keep secret
  21. board — to get on
  22. pound — for dogs
  23. lean — to rest against
  24. hide — animal skin

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