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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. This shop sells ________________ wines and cheeses.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  5. The beginning of a sentence starts with a ________________ letter.
  6. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  7. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  8. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  9. Spring is a pleasant ________________.
  10. Did you ________________ the meat?
  11. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  12. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  13. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  14. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  15. A second agreement was made due to the large amount of available ________________.
  16. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  17. What do you think of the new ________________?
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  20. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  21. Beijing is the ________________ of China.
  22. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  23. They retained the League and Cup in his second ________________.
  24. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.

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

Answer key

  1. fine — high quality
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bank — for money
  4. current — of water
  5. capital — a big letter
  6. fine — a penalty
  7. bank — for money
  8. fan — a supporter
  9. season — of the year
  10. season — to add flavour
  11. leaves — of a tree
  12. fan — to cool the air
  13. cabinet — a cupboard
  14. fine — all right
  15. capital — money
  16. current — electric
  17. cabinet — ministers
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. leaves — to go away
  20. current — happening now
  21. capital — a city
  22. fan — a supporter
  23. season — in sport
  24. leaves — lets stay

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