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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.
  3. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  4. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  5. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  6. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  7. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  8. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  9. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  10. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  11. What do you think of the new ________________?
  12. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  17. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  18. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  22. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  23. That was ________________ to happen.
  24. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. snap — to speak sharply
  3. cue — a signal
  4. snap — to snap out of it
  5. bass — the instrument
  6. mine — for digging
  7. mine — an explosive
  8. mouse — the animal
  9. bank — of a river
  10. cue — a hint
  11. cabinet — ministers
  12. cue — for pool
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. snap — to click
  15. bank — for money
  16. bound — tied together
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. mine — belonging to me
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bass — low music
  22. bass — the fish
  23. bound — certain
  24. mouse — 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