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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. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. She's preparing to ________________ her idea to the investors.
  4. The ________________ found him guilty of stealing money.
  5. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  8. Jason, who was in ________________ of the project, was dismissed for corruption.
  9. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  10. The ball is in your ________________.
  11. Where can I ________________ my mobile?
  12. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  13. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  14. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  15. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  16. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  17. The players ran onto the football ________________.
  18. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  19. The room was ________________ black, so I couldn't see a thing.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. When a clown is made king, the ________________ becomes a circus.
  22. Don't do anything ________________.
  23. The tickets are free of ________________.
  24. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.

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

Answer key

  1. can — a tin
  2. bank — for money
  3. pitch — a sales talk
  4. court — of law
  5. bowl — to roll
  6. rash — a series
  7. can — a tin
  8. charge — in control
  9. rash — on the skin
  10. court — for sport
  11. charge — electricity
  12. bowl — a football final
  13. bank — of a river
  14. bowl — a dish
  15. prune — the fruit
  16. prune — to trim
  17. pitch — a sports field
  18. bank — for money
  19. pitch — completely
  20. can — to be able to
  21. court — of a king
  22. rash — hasty
  23. charge — a price
  24. prune — to trim

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