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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. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  4. He is an ace ________________.
  5. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  6. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  7. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  8. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  9. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  12. Don't do anything ________________.
  13. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  14. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  17. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  18. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  19. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  20. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  23. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  24. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.

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

Answer key

  1. rash — on the skin
  2. bank — for money
  3. can — a tin
  4. pitcher — in baseball
  5. calf — of the leg
  6. staff — a stick
  7. can — to be able to
  8. pitcher — a jug
  9. pitcher — a jug
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. can — a tin
  12. rash — hasty
  13. calf — a young animal
  14. staff — employees
  15. bank — of a river
  16. patient — calm and waiting
  17. patient — a sick person
  18. mark — to pay attention
  19. calf — a young animal
  20. mark — a grade
  21. bank — for money
  22. staff — employees
  23. mark — a trace
  24. rash — a series

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