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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. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. James Baker serves as an Honorary Co-________________ for the World Justice Project.
  3. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. The ________________ was transferred to the cardiology ward.
  6. When will it ________________ you to start?
  7. Professor Sir Peter Hirsch formerly held the ________________.
  8. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  9. My father caught me by the ________________.
  10. I put the bag on or beside the ________________.
  11. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  12. "I don't like games like this," squeaked the ________________.
  13. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  14. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  15. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  16. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  17. The farmer was ________________ with the unruly horse.
  18. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  19. Should I buy a wireless ________________?
  20. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  21. I thought I heard a ________________ in the kitchen.
  22. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  23. The nurse administered an injection to the ________________.
  24. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. chair — a leader
  3. suit — clothes
  4. bank — for money
  5. patient — a sick person
  6. suit — to fit
  7. chair — a professorship
  8. arm — a part of something
  9. arm — part of the body
  10. chair — to sit on
  11. fan — a supporter
  12. mouse — the animal
  13. suit — in cards
  14. lash — a whip stroke
  15. fan — a supporter
  16. arm — part of the body
  17. patient — calm and waiting
  18. fan — to cool the air
  19. mouse — for a computer
  20. bank — of a river
  21. mouse — the animal
  22. lash — an eyelash
  23. patient — a sick person
  24. lash — to lash out

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