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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. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  2. The ________________ market has crashed.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  8. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  9. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  10. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  11. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  12. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  13. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  14. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  15. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  16. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  17. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  20. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  21. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  22. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  23. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  24. The ________________ change colour in autumn.

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

Answer key

  1. lie — an untruth
  2. stock — shares
  3. bank — for money
  4. kick — a thrill
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. bank — for money
  7. bowl — a dish
  8. track — a path
  9. lie — an untruth
  10. bowl — to roll
  11. net — after costs
  12. bank — of a river
  13. track — to keep track
  14. bowl — a football final
  15. leaves — lets stay
  16. track — a song
  17. stock — a soup base
  18. stock — goods
  19. kick — in football
  20. net — for catching
  21. kick — with a leg
  22. lie — to recline
  23. net — in sport
  24. leaves — of a tree

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