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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  3. Don't do anything ________________.
  4. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  5. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  6. When I ________________ my fingers, you'll wake up.
  7. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  8. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. ________________ out of it! You haven't done a thing all week.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  17. Lukas kept the diamonds in a locked ________________.
  18. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  19. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  20. Champaud competed in the parallel bars, ________________, and pommel horse events.
  21. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  22. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  23. The ceiling is a plaster ________________ painted with stars.
  24. You don't have to ________________ at me like that.

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. rash — hasty
  4. toast — bread
  5. can — to be able to
  6. snap — to click
  7. branch — a division
  8. bear — the animal
  9. bear — the animal
  10. snap — to snap out of it
  11. bank — for money
  12. branch — of a bank
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. rash — on the skin
  15. can — a tin
  16. bank — for money
  17. vault — a safe
  18. toast — a drink to someone
  19. bear — to put up with
  20. vault — in gymnastics
  21. rash — a series
  22. toast — the most admired
  23. vault — an arched ceiling
  24. snap — to speak sharply

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