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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 ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  2. I seem to be developing a ________________.
  3. He always ________________ the window open while he sleeps.
  4. The fisherman caught a huge ________________.
  5. That must've been a ________________.
  6. Don't do anything ________________.
  7. The ________________ went through the wall.
  8. The elephant has a huge ________________.
  9. The train ________________ at six o'clock.
  10. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  11. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  12. The supermarket has a large ________________ of merchandise.
  13. The tree's ________________ was scarred by lightning strikes.
  14. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  15. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  16. I play ________________ in a jazz band.
  17. The ________________ market has crashed.
  18. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  19. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  20. The party suffered for the ________________ of party-switching.
  21. The ________________ change colour in autumn.
  22. Turn up the ________________ so we can feel the beat.
  23. What's the difference between broth and ________________?
  24. I've got the luggage in my ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. bank — for money
  2. rash — on the skin
  3. leaves — lets stay
  4. bass — the fish
  5. rush — a thrill
  6. rash — hasty
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. trunk — of an elephant
  9. leaves — to go away
  10. bank — of a river
  11. bank — for money
  12. stock — goods
  13. trunk — of a tree
  14. rush — to hurry
  15. nail — on a finger
  16. bass — the instrument
  17. stock — shares
  18. nail — for a hammer
  19. rush — hurry
  20. rash — a series
  21. leaves — of a tree
  22. bass — low music
  23. stock — a soup base
  24. trunk — of a car

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