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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. Where did you ________________ them?
  2. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  5. Every pianist practices the C major ________________.
  6. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  7. The kitchen ________________ is next to the microwave.
  8. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  9. You can't go backstage without a ________________.
  10. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. We wanted to take a walk to ________________ the time.
  13. Fill up this ________________ with water.
  14. The giraffe did all she could to defend her ________________.
  15. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  16. He is an ace ________________.
  17. The giraffe protected her ________________ with great courage.
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  20. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  21. The ________________ will go to the well once too often.
  22. No doubt you will be able to ________________ the examination.
  23. He had ________________ pain while walking.
  24. Nobody expected a disaster on this ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mug — to rob
  2. hand — in cards
  3. bank — of a river
  4. hand — help
  5. scale — in music
  6. rock — music
  7. scale — for weighing
  8. rock — a stone
  9. pass — a permit
  10. bank — for money
  11. bank — for money
  12. pass — to spend time
  13. pitcher — a jug
  14. calf — a young animal
  15. hand — part of the body
  16. pitcher — in baseball
  17. calf — a young animal
  18. mug — a cup
  19. rock — to move gently
  20. mug — a face
  21. pitcher — a jug
  22. pass — to succeed
  23. calf — of the leg
  24. scale — size or range

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