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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 120 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. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  2. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  3. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  4. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  5. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  6. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  7. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  8. The light ________________ burned out.
  9. That must've been a ________________.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  13. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  16. When will it ________________ you to start?
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  19. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  20. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  21. Plant the tulip ________________ before the first frost.
  22. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  23. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  24. I've got to change the light ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. mouse — for a computer
  2. band — a music group
  3. mouse — the animal
  4. suit — in cards
  5. bank — of a river
  6. pit — a hole
  7. band — a rubber band
  8. bulb — for light
  9. rush — a thrill
  10. rush — hurry
  11. band — a ring
  12. pit — a fruit stone
  13. wake — a trail
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. wake — before a funeral
  16. suit — to fit
  17. bank — for money
  18. mouse — the animal
  19. wake — to stop sleeping
  20. pit — in a race
  21. bulb — of a plant
  22. suit — clothes
  23. bank — for money
  24. bulb — for light

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