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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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. The hotel is built around a mineral ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  8. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  9. He is an ace ________________.
  10. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  11. The flowers bloom in the ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. We're almost out of ________________.
  14. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  15. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  16. There's a broken ________________ in the bed.
  17. You don't need to ________________ round.
  18. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  19. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  20. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  21. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  22. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  23. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  24. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. spring — of water
  3. bank — of a river
  4. pitcher — a jug
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. pass — to succeed
  8. pass — a permit
  9. pitcher — in baseball
  10. pass — to spend time
  11. spring — the season
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. pop — soda
  14. pitcher — a jug
  15. bank — for money
  16. spring — a coil
  17. pop — to visit
  18. rush — hurry
  19. pit — a hole
  20. mouse — the animal
  21. bank — for money
  22. pop — music
  23. mouse — the animal
  24. pit — in a race

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