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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. When will it ________________ you to start?
  2. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  3. Have you found your soul ________________?
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  6. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  7. ________________ is common in the lakes of Sweden.
  8. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  9. I like lots of butter on my ________________ in the morning.
  10. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  11. I would like to propose a ________________ on your birthday.
  12. Males and females first ________________ when two years old.
  13. The birds use the scarecrow as a ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  16. That must've been a ________________.
  17. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  18. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. Excuse me, sorry ________________, you haven't got the time have you?
  21. The owl hooted softly from its ________________.
  22. The ________________ market has crashed.
  23. After the show, she was the ________________ of the town.
  24. Take your time. There's no ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. suit — to fit
  2. band — a rubber band
  3. mate — a partner
  4. bank — for money
  5. rush — to hurry
  6. band — a ring
  7. perch — the fish
  8. suit — clothes
  9. toast — bread
  10. band — a music group
  11. toast — a drink to someone
  12. mate — to breed
  13. perch — for a bird
  14. bank — for money
  15. stock — a soup base
  16. rush — a thrill
  17. suit — in cards
  18. stock — goods
  19. bank — of a river
  20. mate — a friend
  21. perch — for a bird
  22. stock — shares
  23. toast — the most admired
  24. rush — hurry

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

Make a worksheet (0 words)

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