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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. 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. I got a ________________ for parking in the wrong place.
  5. I got dealt a bad ________________.
  6. I haven't touched a tennis ________________ in years.
  7. The lid of the ________________ creaked open.
  8. The museum has ________________ figures of famous people.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. The spa offers ________________ extensions.
  11. She laid her head on my ________________ so she could listen to my heartbeat.
  12. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  13. He hasn't even shaken my ________________.
  14. He hit the ball with his ________________.
  15. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  16. What's the best way to remove ear ________________?
  17. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  18. Our cat is sitting in the apple tree, and the birds are making a ________________.
  19. The moon will ________________ and wane.
  20. Do you need a ________________ with that?
  21. I assure you, everything's ________________.
  22. I felt an uncomfortable tightness in my ________________.
  23. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  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. fine — a penalty
  5. hand — in cards
  6. racket — for tennis
  7. chest — a box
  8. wax — for sculpting
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. lash — an eyelash
  11. chest — of your body
  12. lash — a whip stroke
  13. hand — part of the body
  14. racket — for tennis
  15. leaves — of a tree
  16. wax — in the ear
  17. lash — to lash out
  18. racket — a loud noise
  19. wax — to grow
  20. hand — help
  21. fine — all right
  22. chest — of your body
  23. bank — for money
  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