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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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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: hide · land · bank · roll · cue · rush · deal · mug

  1. Algeria is a ________________ of gas and oil.
  2. When are we going to ________________?
  3. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  4. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  5. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  6. That must've been a ________________.
  7. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  8. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  9. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  10. Grandma has made a Swiss ________________.
  11. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  12. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  13. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  14. I'm the one who owns all this ________________.
  15. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  16. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  17. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  18. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  19. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  20. Where did you ________________ them?
  21. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  22. The teacher called the ________________ to see who was absent.
  23. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  24. We're on a ________________ here.

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

Answer key

  1. land — a country
  2. land — to come down
  3. hide — to keep secret
  4. deal — an agreement
  5. cue — a hint
  6. rush — a thrill
  7. bank — of a river
  8. bank — for money
  9. deal — a big deal
  10. roll — a cake
  11. deal — to handle
  12. bank — for money
  13. hide — animal skin
  14. land — ground
  15. rush — hurry
  16. rush — to hurry
  17. hide — to keep secret
  18. mug — a cup
  19. cue — a signal
  20. mug — to rob
  21. cue — for pool
  22. roll — a list
  23. mug — a face
  24. roll — on a roll

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