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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. Because of the accident, he'll have a limp for the ________________ of his life.
  3. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  6. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  7. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  8. Don't do anything ________________.
  9. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  10. I would like to have a ________________ here.
  11. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  12. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  13. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  14. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  15. The ________________ of the members were all out of tune.
  16. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  17. When was this ________________ built?
  18. A trickle of blood ran from her ________________ down her cheek.
  19. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  20. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. Your daily life is your ________________ and your religion.
  23. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  24. We have nothing to ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. rest — what's left
  3. shower — a meteor shower
  4. bank — for money
  5. shower — to wash
  6. bank — for money
  7. deal — to handle
  8. rash — hasty
  9. deal — an agreement
  10. rest — a break
  11. pitch — a sales talk
  12. hide — to keep secret
  13. pitch — a sports field
  14. deal — a big deal
  15. rest — what's left
  16. hide — animal skin
  17. temple — a place of worship
  18. temple — side of the head
  19. rash — on the skin
  20. pitch — completely
  21. rash — a series
  22. temple — a place of worship
  23. shower — rain
  24. hide — to keep secret

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