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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. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  5. I've got to change the light ________________.
  6. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  7. The president vowed to ________________ the mutiny.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  10. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  11. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  12. The light ________________ burned out.
  13. Don't do anything ________________.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. I'd like to play a game of ________________.
  16. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  17. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  18. Cut the butternut ________________ into one-inch cubes.
  19. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  20. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  21. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  22. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  23. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  24. We took cover from the thunder ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. can — a tin
  3. bank — for money
  4. board — a flat piece
  5. bulb — for light
  6. lie — an untruth
  7. squash — to crush
  8. bank — for money
  9. shower — a meteor shower
  10. lie — an untruth
  11. shower — to wash
  12. bulb — for light
  13. rash — hasty
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. squash — the sport
  16. board — a committee
  17. can — to be able to
  18. squash — the vegetable
  19. rash — a series
  20. bulb — of a plant
  21. can — a tin
  22. board — to get on
  23. lie — to recline
  24. shower — rain

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