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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. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  2. The ________________ told me I needed to practice harder.
  3. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  4. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  5. Is the royal ________________ prepared for the journey?
  6. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  7. Hard work is the ________________ to success.
  8. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  9. Doesn't taking care of babies ________________ you?
  10. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  11. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  12. This piece is in a major ________________.
  13. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  14. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  15. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  16. Are you the only one who has a ________________ to this door?
  17. Have you met the new head ________________?
  18. She ________________ him three sons and a daughter.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Use a drill to ________________ a hole in the wall.
  22. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  24. The players ran onto the football ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. coach — a trainer
  3. fan — a supporter
  4. pitch — a sales talk
  5. coach — pulled by horses
  6. wax — in the ear
  7. key — the most important part
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. bore — to tire
  10. current — of water
  11. wax — for sculpting
  12. key — in music
  13. fan — to cool the air
  14. wax — to grow
  15. current — happening now
  16. key — for a lock
  17. coach — a trainer
  18. bore — gave birth
  19. pitch — completely
  20. bank — for money
  21. bore — to drill
  22. current — electric
  23. bank — for money
  24. pitch — a sports field

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