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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 124 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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  3. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  8. Did you ________________ the button?
  9. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  10. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  13. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  14. My father caught me by the ________________.
  15. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  16. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  17. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  18. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  19. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  20. When was this ________________ built?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  23. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  24. A black ________________ roamed the forest.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. arm — a part of something
  3. board — to get on
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. hide — animal skin
  6. bank — of a river
  7. press — a publisher
  8. press — to push
  9. row — a quarrel
  10. row — to paddle
  11. bear — the animal
  12. row — a line
  13. bear — to put up with
  14. arm — part of the body
  15. temple — a place of worship
  16. press — newspapers
  17. arm — part of the body
  18. board — a committee
  19. hide — to keep secret
  20. temple — a place of worship
  21. bank — for money
  22. temple — side of the head
  23. hide — to keep secret
  24. bear — the animal

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