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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  4. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  5. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  6. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  7. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  8. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  9. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  10. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  11. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  14. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  15. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  16. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  17. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  24. Do you need a ________________ with that?

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. hand — in cards
  3. pit — a hole
  4. bore — to tire
  5. pit — a fruit stone
  6. bore — to drill
  7. cue — for pool
  8. wake — to stop sleeping
  9. suit — in cards
  10. wake — a trail
  11. hand — part of the body
  12. bank — for money
  13. cue — a signal
  14. pit — in a race
  15. cue — a hint
  16. rash — a series
  17. suit — clothes
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. suit — to fit
  20. bank — for money
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. rash — hasty
  23. rash — on the skin
  24. hand — help

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