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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. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. There's no middle ________________.
  4. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  5. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  6. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  7. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. The ________________ was covered with snow, as far as the eye could see.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  13. The King held a masked ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  17. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  20. Add some ________________ pepper to it.
  21. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  22. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  23. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  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. rest — what's left
  2. rest — what's left
  3. ground — a position
  4. rest — a break
  5. leaves — to go away
  6. staff — employees
  7. ball — a great time
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. bank — of a river
  10. ground — the earth
  11. bank — for money
  12. lash — to lash out
  13. ball — a dance
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. staff — employees
  17. deal — to handle
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. staff — a stick
  20. ground — crushed
  21. leaves — lets stay
  22. deal — an agreement
  23. leaves — of a tree
  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