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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  3. Nothing provides more peace of mind than a ________________ decision.
  4. I was having a ________________ recording these guys.
  5. The kitten curled into a ________________.
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  8. The speedboat left a long ________________ behind it.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  11. She works as an advertiser at a New Jersey ________________.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. She's sitting on a gold ________________.
  14. I didn't ________________ up well this morning.
  15. I'll stand ________________ for what I deserve.
  16. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  17. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  18. He was blown up by a land ________________.
  19. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  20. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  21. Friends gathered at the ________________ to remember him.
  22. I met an old friend of ________________ the other day.
  23. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  24. The King held a masked ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. cue — a signal
  3. firm — decided
  4. ball — a great time
  5. ball — a round shape
  6. bank — of a river
  7. jam — a tight spot
  8. wake — a trail
  9. cue — a hint
  10. pit — a hole
  11. firm — a company
  12. bank — for money
  13. mine — for digging
  14. wake — to stop sleeping
  15. firm — steady
  16. pit — in a race
  17. pit — a fruit stone
  18. mine — an explosive
  19. cue — for pool
  20. jam — to spread on bread
  21. wake — before a funeral
  22. mine — belonging to me
  23. jam — in traffic
  24. ball — a dance

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