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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. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  2. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  3. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  6. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  7. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  8. The function of the ________________ is to provide the common people with facts.
  9. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  10. Manchester University ________________ is the university's academic publishing house.
  11. The King held a masked ________________.
  12. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. He is an ace ________________.
  15. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  16. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  17. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  18. My father caught me by the ________________.
  19. Did you ________________ the button?
  20. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  23. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  24. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.

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

Answer key

  1. row — to paddle
  2. deal — a big deal
  3. row — a line
  4. bank — for money
  5. row — a quarrel
  6. deal — an agreement
  7. arm — a part of something
  8. press — newspapers
  9. mark — to pay attention
  10. press — a publisher
  11. ball — a dance
  12. ball — a great time
  13. mark — a grade
  14. pitcher — in baseball
  15. arm — part of the body
  16. pitcher — a jug
  17. bank — for money
  18. arm — part of the body
  19. press — to push
  20. mark — a trace
  21. bank — of a river
  22. ball — a round shape
  23. deal — to handle
  24. pitcher — a jug

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