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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  3. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  4. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  5. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  6. Buy me a box of chocolates and I'll be ________________.
  7. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  12. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  15. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  16. TikTok makes it very easy to create ________________.
  17. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  18. Check the label for the sugar ________________.
  19. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  20. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  21. Don't do anything ________________.
  22. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  23. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  24. My father caught me by the ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. bear — to put up with
  3. current — electric
  4. mark — a trace
  5. lie — to recline
  6. content — happy
  7. lie — an untruth
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. bear — the animal
  10. bank — for money
  11. bear — the animal
  12. rash — on the skin
  13. bank — of a river
  14. rash — a series
  15. current — of water
  16. content — videos and posts
  17. mark — a grade
  18. content — the amount
  19. arm — part of the body
  20. mark — to pay attention
  21. rash — hasty
  22. current — happening now
  23. lie — an untruth
  24. arm — part of the body

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