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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. Many happy returns to all who ________________ the name of a flower!
  2. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  3. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  4. That must've been a ________________.
  5. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  6. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  7. What do you think of the new ________________?
  8. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  9. A black ________________ roamed the forest.
  10. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  11. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  12. The little girl was crying for the teddy ________________.
  13. Wood does not conduct electric ________________.
  14. She took a metal box from the top of the kitchen ________________.
  15. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  16. Algeria has become a bargaining ________________ in a global game of poker.
  17. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  18. In all probability, the ________________ will fall.
  19. There's a computer ________________ on the table.
  20. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  21. Let us try to swim against the ________________.
  22. The potato ________________ was salty and crunchy.
  23. Here is a list of ________________ job openings.
  24. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bear — to put up with
  2. bowl — to roll
  3. rush — to hurry
  4. rush — a thrill
  5. rule — to rule out
  6. bank — for money
  7. cabinet — ministers
  8. bowl — a dish
  9. bear — the animal
  10. rush — hurry
  11. bank — for money
  12. bear — the animal
  13. current — electric
  14. cabinet — a cupboard
  15. rule — government
  16. chip — for betting
  17. rule — a law
  18. cabinet — ministers
  19. chip — in a computer
  20. bowl — a football final
  21. current — of water
  22. chip — to eat
  23. current — happening now
  24. bank — of a river

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