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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. They were given a penalty ________________ just minutes from the end.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. The light ________________ burned out.
  7. I've got to change the light ________________.
  8. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  9. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  12. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  13. I get a ________________ out of her cheerful personality.
  14. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  17. He works in a ________________ mill.
  18. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  19. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  22. One ________________ from a giraffe's hind leg is enough to kill a lion.
  23. We're on a ________________ here.
  24. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. kick — in football
  3. bank — for money
  4. bulb — of a plant
  5. bank — of a river
  6. bulb — for light
  7. bulb — for light
  8. foot — a measure
  9. can — to be able to
  10. saw — the tool
  11. roll — a list
  12. bass — the instrument
  13. kick — a thrill
  14. bass — low music
  15. can — a tin
  16. bass — the fish
  17. saw — the tool
  18. can — a tin
  19. saw — past of 'see'
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. roll — a cake
  22. kick — with a leg
  23. roll — on a roll
  24. foot — the bottom

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