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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 116 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: pit · rush · staff · can · saw · bound · fan · bank

  1. It's hotel ________________. Please let me in.
  2. Tiny blossoms have come out all over the river ________________.
  3. This ________________ always watches out for its own interests.
  4. Can you turn the ________________ on?
  5. The old man leaned on his ________________.
  6. Jarno Trulli was disqualified for passing a red light at the ________________ exit.
  7. Are you a huge ________________ of trains?
  8. That was ________________ to happen.
  9. You shouldn't ________________ things.
  10. She's very handy with a ________________.
  11. Take your time. There's no ________________.
  12. Tom opened a ________________ of soup.
  13. I'm going to the ________________ to withdraw money.
  14. I am not a ________________ of shrimp.
  15. We ________________ that the plan would end in failure.
  16. He works in a ________________ mill.
  17. He reached out and took down a small leather ________________ book.
  18. Boris sat near the fire ________________.
  19. That must've been a ________________.
  20. ________________ you help me carry this box?
  21. The office ________________ worked quickly and efficiently to resolve the problem.
  22. Have you ever swallowed an apricot ________________?
  23. We are ________________ to obey laws.
  24. Recycle the empty soda ________________.

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

Answer key

  1. staff — employees
  2. bank — of a river
  3. bank — for money
  4. fan — to cool the air
  5. staff — a stick
  6. pit — in a race
  7. fan — a supporter
  8. bound — certain
  9. rush — to hurry
  10. saw — the tool
  11. rush — hurry
  12. can — a tin
  13. bank — for money
  14. fan — a supporter
  15. saw — past of 'see'
  16. saw — the tool
  17. bound — tied together
  18. pit — a hole
  19. rush — a thrill
  20. can — to be able to
  21. staff — employees
  22. pit — a fruit stone
  23. bound — obliged
  24. can — a tin

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