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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. I am seized by an uncontrollable ________________ of sadness.
  3. The stadium has a track around the football ________________.
  4. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  5. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  6. Don't ________________ against the wall. It's just been painted.
  7. When will it ________________ you to start?
  8. A lot of friends came to ________________ goodbye to me.
  9. He put a rubber ________________ around the bundle of letters.
  10. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  11. He still wears his gold wedding ________________.
  12. He is as ________________ as a wolf.
  13. She got the top ________________ in the exam.
  14. Vegetables slowly ________________ towards the light.
  15. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  16. The ________________ took off on time.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. The surfers were looking for the perfect ________________.
  19. The hot cup left a ________________ on the table.
  20. She's an expert in the ________________ of medicine.
  21. He's the lead singer in a rock ________________.
  22. Vegetables are growing on this ________________.
  23. ________________ my words: he'll be late again.
  24. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. wave — a sudden rise
  3. field — for sport
  4. plane — in geometry
  5. bank — for money
  6. lean — to rest against
  7. suit — to fit
  8. wave — with your hand
  9. band — a rubber band
  10. suit — in cards
  11. band — a ring
  12. lean — thin
  13. mark — a grade
  14. lean — to bend
  15. plane — a tool
  16. plane — an aircraft
  17. bank — for money
  18. wave — of the sea
  19. mark — a trace
  20. field — a subject
  21. band — a music group
  22. field — farmland
  23. mark — to pay attention
  24. suit — clothes

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