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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  3. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  4. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  7. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  10. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  13. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  14. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  15. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  16. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  17. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  18. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  19. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. Have you met the new head ________________?
  22. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  23. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  24. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. branch — of a bank
  3. can — a tin
  4. coach — pulled by horses
  5. can — to be able to
  6. branch — of a tree
  7. bank — for money
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. ruler — a monarch
  10. fan — a supporter
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. ruler — for measuring
  13. branch — a division
  14. bank — for money
  15. deal — to handle
  16. mouse — the animal
  17. deal — a big deal
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. fan — to cool the air
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. coach — a trainer
  22. mouse — for a computer
  23. can — a tin
  24. coach — a trainer

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