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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 116 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. We took cover from the thunder ________________.
  2. She had a strange look on her ________________.
  3. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  4. The dagger's metal was presumably from the same meteor ________________.
  5. Biology is a ________________ of science.
  6. It was raining hard, and to make things worse, the ________________ was beginning to rise.
  7. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  8. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  9. Recycle the empty soda ________________.
  10. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  11. Our bank has a ________________ near the station.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. He chopped down the ________________ with an ax.
  14. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  15. The strong ________________ blew his hat off.
  16. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  17. He's taking a ________________ right now.
  18. He sold his goods at a loss to ________________ up his business.
  19. I want a large ________________ of toothpaste.
  20. Our bedroom windows ________________ the sea.
  21. I'll be taking the ________________.
  22. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  23. I need a new inner ________________ for my bike tire.
  24. Sooner or later you'll have to ________________ the truth.

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

Answer key

  1. shower — rain
  2. face — part of the head
  3. bank — of a river
  4. shower — a meteor shower
  5. branch — a division
  6. wind — moving air
  7. rock — to move gently
  8. rock — music
  9. can — a tin
  10. bank — for money
  11. branch — of a bank
  12. can — a tin
  13. branch — of a tree
  14. can — to be able to
  15. wind — moving air
  16. rock — a stone
  17. shower — to wash
  18. wind — to turn a key
  19. tube — a container
  20. face — to point toward
  21. tube — the underground
  22. bank — for money
  23. tube — in a tire
  24. face — to confront

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