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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. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  2. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  3. Where did you ________________ them?
  4. The girl drawing a picture in the first ________________ is my niece.
  5. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  6. I had a ________________ with my boss today.
  7. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  8. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  11. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  14. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  15. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  16. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  17. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  18. I've got the luggage in my ________________.
  19. We had to ________________ the boat across the lake.
  20. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  21. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  22. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  23. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  24. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.

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

Answer key

  1. leaves — to go away
  2. trunk — of a tree
  3. mug — to rob
  4. row — a line
  5. dip — to sink
  6. row — a quarrel
  7. chip — to eat
  8. chip — for betting
  9. bank — for money
  10. dip — to dunk
  11. deal — an agreement
  12. mug — a cup
  13. dip — a sauce
  14. deal — to handle
  15. bank — of a river
  16. chip — in a computer
  17. leaves — of a tree
  18. trunk — of a car
  19. row — to paddle
  20. trunk — of an elephant
  21. deal — a big deal
  22. mug — a face
  23. leaves — lets stay
  24. bank — for money

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