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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 112 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. Fiction is obliged to ________________ to possibilities. Truth isn't.
  2. Speak softly and carry a big ________________.
  3. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  4. I'll be taking the ________________.
  5. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  6. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  7. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  8. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  9. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  10. What was your ________________ profit last year?
  11. He took the fish out of the ________________.
  12. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  13. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  14. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  15. The ball hit the back of the ________________.
  16. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  17. The King held a masked ________________.
  18. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  19. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  20. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  21. Did you ________________ the meat?
  22. This is the first time I've ever walked with a ________________.
  23. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  24. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.

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

Answer key

  1. stick — to attach or keep to
  2. stick — a piece of wood
  3. bank — for money
  4. tube — the underground
  5. season — of the year
  6. lean — thin
  7. season — in sport
  8. ball — a round shape
  9. bank — for money
  10. net — after costs
  11. net — for catching
  12. lean — to bend
  13. ball — a great time
  14. current — happening now
  15. net — in sport
  16. lean — to rest against
  17. ball — a dance
  18. current — electric
  19. bank — of a river
  20. tube — in a tire
  21. season — to add flavour
  22. stick — a piece of wood
  23. current — of water
  24. tube — a container

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