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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. The sergeant loved to ________________ orders at us.
  2. The train was so full that I had to ________________ all the while.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. Birch trees have smooth white ________________.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  10. The tickets are free of ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. My mare is ________________ in color.
  13. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  14. It's one o'clock ________________.
  15. I can't ________________ this cold.
  16. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  19. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  20. A smaller training pitch was installed beside the main ________________.
  21. This knife is not ________________ enough.
  22. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  23. He's quite ________________, isn't he?
  24. Our dog starts to ________________ whenever the doorbell rings.

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

Answer key

  1. bark — to shout
  2. stand — on your feet
  3. row — a line
  4. bark — of a tree
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. bank — for money
  7. row — to paddle
  8. bound — certain
  9. bound — tied together
  10. charge — a price
  11. charge — electricity
  12. bay — a horse colour
  13. bay — a part of the sea
  14. sharp — exactly
  15. stand — to bear
  16. charge — in control
  17. bank — for money
  18. bank — of a river
  19. bay — to keep at bay
  20. stand — for spectators
  21. sharp — with an edge
  22. bound — obliged
  23. sharp — clever
  24. bark — a dog's sound

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