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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. His birthday is in either ________________ or April.
  2. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  3. The ________________ took off on time.
  4. Heather can grow to a ________________ or so tall.
  5. A ________________ is a veil over the lips.
  6. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  7. Positive actions can inspire others to follow ________________.
  8. We had a fire ________________ at school today.
  9. The carpenter used a ________________ to smooth the door.
  10. The band played a military ________________ at the parade.
  11. The soldiers did ________________ on the parade ground every morning.
  12. The cuffs of his ________________ jacket are badly frayed.
  13. In geometry, a flat surface is called a ________________.
  14. The hunter does not ________________ down with the prey.
  15. I need a ________________ to install the towel rack.
  16. I have a corn on my right ________________.
  17. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  18. Is it always a sin to tell a ________________?
  19. When will it ________________ you to start?
  20. We will have lived in Kyoto for eight years next ________________.
  21. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  22. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  23. The newcomer sat down at the ________________ of the table.
  24. Don't do anything ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. march — the month
  2. bank — for money
  3. plane — an aircraft
  4. foot — a measure
  5. lie — an untruth
  6. rash — a series
  7. suit — in cards
  8. drill — a practice
  9. plane — a tool
  10. march — music
  11. drill — army training
  12. suit — clothes
  13. plane — in geometry
  14. lie — to recline
  15. drill — the tool
  16. foot — part of the body
  17. bank — for money
  18. lie — an untruth
  19. suit — to fit
  20. march — the month
  21. bank — of a river
  22. rash — on the skin
  23. foot — the bottom
  24. rash — hasty

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