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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. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  2. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  3. Do not ________________ roses in the fall.
  4. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  5. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  6. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  7. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  8. He keeps ________________ of his days.
  9. The muddy ________________ descends to a valley.
  10. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  11. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  12. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  13. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  14. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  15. This is my favorite ________________ on the album.
  16. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  17. A ________________ is just a dried plum.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  20. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  21. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. I cannot ________________ this tree. It's too high.
  24. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.

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

Answer key

  1. hide — animal skin
  2. foot — a measure
  3. prune — to trim
  4. bank — for money
  5. fine — a penalty
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. current — of water
  8. track — to keep track
  9. track — a path
  10. cue — for pool
  11. bank — of a river
  12. current — electric
  13. fine — all right
  14. bank — for money
  15. track — a song
  16. foot — the bottom
  17. prune — the fruit
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. current — happening now
  20. foot — part of the body
  21. fine — high quality
  22. cue — a hint
  23. prune — to trim
  24. cue — a signal

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