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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. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  2. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  3. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  6. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  7. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  8. That must've been a ________________.
  9. The captain is giving the order to ________________ the ship.
  10. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  11. I'm currently on the ________________ of directors.
  12. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  15. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  16. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  17. ________________ games are popular in Germany.
  18. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  19. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  20. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  21. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  22. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  23. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  24. I play ________________ in a jazz band.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rush — to hurry
  3. rock — to move gently
  4. bass — the fish
  5. bear — to put up with
  6. bank — of a river
  7. rush — hurry
  8. rush — a thrill
  9. board — to get on
  10. hide — to keep secret
  11. board — a committee
  12. rock — a stone
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. cue — a signal
  15. cue — for pool
  16. bear — the animal
  17. board — a flat piece
  18. hide — to keep secret
  19. bear — the animal
  20. bank — for money
  21. rock — music
  22. cue — a hint
  23. bass — low music
  24. bass — the instrument

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