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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. A drowning man will clutch at a ________________.
  3. Oh no! I wasn't paying attention and left my ________________ phone in the restaurant!
  4. Each ________________ is a complete and highly sophisticated living world in its own right.
  5. Close the lid of the trash can to keep odors and pests at ________________.
  6. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  7. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  8. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  9. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  10. The goat rested comfortably on a soft bed of ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. He was locked up in a ________________.
  13. My mare is ________________ in color.
  14. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. It always has to be a ________________ man with them.
  17. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  20. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  21. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  22. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  23. The sailing ship dropped anchor in the ________________.
  24. I have a corn on my right ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — of a river
  2. straw — to clutch at straws
  3. cell — a phone
  4. cell — in biology
  5. bay — to keep at bay
  6. leaves — lets stay
  7. racket — for tennis
  8. board — to get on
  9. bank — for money
  10. straw — dry grass
  11. bank — for money
  12. cell — in a prison
  13. bay — a horse colour
  14. leaves — to go away
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. straw — a straw man
  17. foot — a measure
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. board — a committee
  20. racket — for tennis
  21. foot — the bottom
  22. board — a flat piece
  23. bay — a part of the sea
  24. foot — part of the body

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