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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. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  4. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  5. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  6. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  7. Did you ________________ the meat?
  8. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  11. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  12. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  13. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.
  14. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  15. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  16. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  17. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  18. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  19. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  22. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?

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

Answer key

  1. face — to point toward
  2. bank — of a river
  3. patient — a sick person
  4. mouse — the animal
  5. mouse — for a computer
  6. stick — to attach or keep to
  7. season — to add flavour
  8. stick — a piece of wood
  9. season — of the year
  10. patient — a sick person
  11. rock — to move gently
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. face — to confront
  14. stick — a piece of wood
  15. rock — a stone
  16. net — for catching
  17. net — in sport
  18. season — in sport
  19. net — after costs
  20. bank — for money
  21. face — part of the head
  22. patient — calm and waiting
  23. bank — for money
  24. rock — music

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