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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. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  3. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  4. We usually eat with a knife, ________________ and spoon.
  5. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  6. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  7. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  8. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  9. We came to a ________________ in the road and had no idea which direction to go.
  10. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  11. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  12. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  13. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  17. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  18. Use a garden ________________ to turn the soil.
  19. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  20. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  21. That was ________________ to happen.
  22. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.
  23. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  24. I would like to have a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. wake — a trail
  3. rest — what's left
  4. fork — to eat with
  5. rest — what's left
  6. pass — a permit
  7. pass — to spend time
  8. can — to be able to
  9. fork — in a road
  10. wake — to stop sleeping
  11. bound — tied together
  12. wake — before a funeral
  13. can — a tin
  14. bank — for money
  15. can — a tin
  16. bank — of a river
  17. pass — to succeed
  18. fork — a garden tool
  19. scale — for weighing
  20. bound — obliged
  21. bound — certain
  22. scale — size or range
  23. scale — in music
  24. rest — a break

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