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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. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  2. That must've been a ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. She's very handy with a ________________.
  5. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  8. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. He works in a ________________ mill.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  13. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  14. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  15. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  16. Where did you ________________ them?
  17. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  18. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  19. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  20. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  23. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  24. ________________ you help me carry this box?

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

Answer key

  1. rush — to hurry
  2. rush — a thrill
  3. bank — for money
  4. saw — the tool
  5. stick — a piece of wood
  6. bank — for money
  7. mug — a cup
  8. wax — to grow
  9. can — a tin
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rush — hurry
  12. board — a committee
  13. wax — for sculpting
  14. stick — to attach or keep to
  15. can — a tin
  16. mug — to rob
  17. board — to get on
  18. mug — a face
  19. board — a flat piece
  20. stick — a piece of wood
  21. bank — of a river
  22. wax — in the ear
  23. saw — past of 'see'
  24. can — to be able to

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