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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 116 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. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  2. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  3. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  4. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  7. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  8. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  9. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  10. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  13. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  14. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  15. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  16. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  17. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  18. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  19. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  22. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.

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

Answer key

  1. fan — to cool the air
  2. track — a song
  3. lie — an untruth
  4. pit — a hole
  5. bank — for money
  6. fan — a supporter
  7. lash — to lash out
  8. bank — of a river
  9. mug — a cup
  10. track — to keep track
  11. band — a ring
  12. pit — in a race
  13. pit — a fruit stone
  14. lie — an untruth
  15. lash — a whip stroke
  16. track — a path
  17. lie — to recline
  18. lash — an eyelash
  19. fan — a supporter
  20. mug — to rob
  21. bank — for money
  22. band — a music group
  23. mug — a face
  24. band — a rubber band

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